FEB.  24, 1831 —MAY,  1,1 8  97. 


LIBRARY 

OF  Til! 

University  of  California. 

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Received         JY(nr*  .  i8g7 . 

ssnm  N o. (qo '/-${£)        .    Class  No. 


This    volume  is  presented   by   the  family    of  the    late 

Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  D.D.     Please  acknowledge  receipt 

of  the  same  to 

REV.   ALFRED   MANCHESTER, 

j  Cedar  Street,  Salem,  Mass. 


rU5IVBE;IT7] 


r£z>Cts£e^{r-&-zuoo*  (ftnec^l^jej*-- 


In  JMemortam 


CALEB  DAVIS  BRADLEE,  D.D.,  Ph.D. 

1831-1897 


ALFRED    MANCHESTER 


They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that  turn 
many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  forever  " 


3-%  **N 


PRIVATELY    PRINTED    FOR    DISTRIBUTION 


BOSTON 

Geo.  H.  Ellis,  141  Franklin  Street 

1897 


M3 


tMft 


010.  M.  ILLIS,  PRINTIR,   141   FRANKLIN  STRUT,  BOSTON 


WV1ESITT7 


PREFACE. 


This  memorial  volume  is  printed,  by  the  family  of  Dr.  Bradlee, 
for  private  distribution,  to  preserve  the  story  of  his  life,  and  to 
suggest  many  precious  memories  of  it  to  those  who  were  within 
the  sacred  circle  of  his  immediate  fellowship. 

Dr.  Bradlee  kept  no  journal ;  but  in  various  books  he  recorded 
the  main  facts  of  his  life,  and  these  have  been  given  in  chrono- 
logical order,  with  illustrations  from  letters  and  other  writings. 

The  chief  object  of  the  book  will  be  attained  if  it  shall  help 
those  who  knew  him  best  to  preserve  a  clear  memory  of  a  life 
which  was  a  perennial  fountain  of  helpful  words  and  deeds. 

The  work  of  preparing  the  volume  has  been  done  by  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  Dr.  Bradlee,  who  for  nearly  thirty  years  was 
admitted  to  a  fellowship  and  sympathy  which  are  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  as  the  source  of  much  that  has  made  life  worth 
living.  m 

ALFRED    MANCHESTER. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

I.    Early  Life 3 

II.     North  Cambridge  Settlement 15 

III.  Transient  Supplies  and  East  Boston 35 

IV.  Church  of  the  Redeemer 45 

V.    Transient  Supplies.     Supply  and  Pastorate  Chris- 
tian Unity  Society 63 

VI.     Transient  Supplies.    Pastor  pro  Tem.,  Pastor,  and 

Senior  Pastor  at  Harrison  Square  Church   .  77 

VII.     Norfolk  Street  Church in 

r 

VIII.     Period  of  Rest  and  Longwood 121 

IX.     Closing  Days.    Funeral  Service.     Resolutions  and 

Personal  Tributes  of  Love  and  Honor  .     .     .  161 

X.     Personal  Traits 177 

XL     Societies 187 

XII.     Publications 193 

XIII.  Poems 197 

XIV.  Sermons 215 


s% 


OF  Ttf* 


i. 

EARLY    LIFE. 

February  24,  183 1  —  December  ii,  1854. 


■>, I 


EARLY  LIFE. 

February  24,  1831  —  December  ii,  1854. 

IN  the  preface  to  his  History  of  the  Bradlee  Family, 
Samuel  Bradlee  Doggett,  Esq.,  says :  "  The  name 
was  originally  spelled  Bradley,  the  change  to  Bradlee 
being  made  by  Samuel  Bradlee,  who  was  recorded  in 
the  Dorchester  records  as  the  son  of  Nathan  and  Lydia 
Bradlee,  born  Oct.  5,  1707,  and  on  the  monument 
erected  to  his  memory,  in  the  Dorchester  burying- 
ground,  as  Mr.  Samuel  Bradlee,  died  July  7,  1768,  aged 
62,  the  y  giving  place  to  e.  Family  tradition  has  it 
that  the  Bradleys  in  Dorchester  were  so  numerous 
that  mistakes  were  made,  to  obviate  which  Samuel 
Bradley  changed  the  final  letter  to  e.  The  change  in 
spelling  applies  also  to  John  Bradley,  the  brother  of 
Samuel,  whose  name  is  recorded  on  his  tombstone  as 
Brad/<?£.  The  posterity  of  Samuel  Bradlee  who  are 
living,  and  bear  the  name  at  the  present  day,  still 
retain  this  mode  of  spelling  it." 

The  name  Samuel  was  a  favorite  one  in  the  Bradlee 
family;  and  on  Nov.  7,  1778,  it  was  given  to  a  child 
who  in  1 83 1  became  the  father  of  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee. 

Mr.  Samuel  Bradlee  was  born  in  Boston,  in  the  house 
now  standing  on  the  south-easterly  corner  of  Hollis  and 


4  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Tremont  Streets.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  entered  into  business  in  the  year  1800, 
from  which  he  retired  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  according 
to  a  resolution  formed  in  early  life.  On  the  4th  of 
June,  1806,  he  was  married,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
West,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Timothy  West,  of  Charles- 
town,  N.H.,  with  whom  he  lived  a  little  over  six  years; 
and  on  the  31st  of  July,  18 17,  he  was  married,  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Lowell,  to  Elizabeth  Davis,  daughter 
of  Jeremiah  Williams,  of  Boston.  She  was  the  mother 
of  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee.  She  was  named  for  her  grand- 
father, the  Hon.  Caleb  Davis,  who  was  a  deacon  in 
Hollis  Street  Church,  the  first  speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  after  the  new  Constitution  had  been 
adopted,  and  one  of  the  electors  of  George  Washington 
as  President  of  the  United  States.  The  ancestry  on 
the  father's  side  was  no  less  patriotic,  the  grandfather 
being  Nathaniel  Bradlee,  one  of  the  loyal  Americans 
who,  disguised  as  Indians,  threw  the  British  tea  into 
Boston  Harbor.  It  was  in  the  old  Bradlee  house  —  still 
standing  at  the  corner  of  Tremont  and  Hollis  Streets, 
Boston  —  that  some  of  the  men  met  to  prepare  for  the 
"  tea  party." 

Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  was  born  on  the  24th  of 
February,  1831.  It  was  on  a  Thursday,  at  6.30  a.m., 
in  a  house  on  Avon  Place,  Boston,  now  Avon  Street, 
where  a  part  of  the  store  of  Jordan  &  Marsh  is  located. 
There  were  eight  children  by  the  second  marriage  of 
Samuel  Bradlee,  of  whom  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  was  the 
youngest.  He  was  never  in  robust  health,  but  he 
survived  all  other  members  of  his  father's  family.     His 


EARLY    LIFE.  5 

brother,  Nathaniel  J.  Bradlee,  Esq.,  died  suddenly- 
Dee.  17,  1888,  leaving  him  the  sole  representative  of 
the  family. 

His  earliest  church  connection  was  with  the  Hollis 
Street  Church,  by  whose  pastor  —  the  Rev.  John  Pier- 
pont  —  he  was  christened  March  26,  183 1.  Of  Mr. 
Pierpont  he  says  :  — 

"The  Rev.  John  Pierpont  was  the  first  minister  of 
which  I  have  any  clear  remembrance  in  the  remote 
past,  he  having  been  my  pastor  from  birth  till  I  was 
nearly  seven  years  old.  His  hand  placed  the  baptismal 
waters  upon  my  brow,  and  his  words  were  often  heard 
by  me  in  the  Sunday-school,  but  I  was  too  young  to 
appreciate  the  eloquence  of  his  voice  in  the  pulpit,  the 
fervor  of  his  prayers,  and  his  exceedingly  attractive 
sermons;  but  I  was  very  much  drawn  toward  him  in 
my  youthful  days,  and  I  can  very  well  remember  that 
he  called  upon  my  mother  when  I  was  five  years  old, 
and  that  I  at  that  time  selected  for  him,  because  he 
was  my  minister,  the  best  apple  I  could  find,  and  with 
great  pride  and  joy  placed  it  in  his  hands,  whilst  his 
smile  and  approving  voice  were  a  sufficient  compensa- 
tion. I  also  call  to  mind  that  after  I  was  settled  in 
North  Cambridge  he  was  to  give  a  lecture  in  my 
church,  and  that  I  had  the  extreme  happiness  of 
entertaining  him  at  supper;  and  thus  the  little  babe 
that  he  baptized  and  the  newly  ordained  minister  came 
again  into  a  joyful  fellowship  with  the  early  pastor  and 
friend." 

C.  D.  Bradlee  was  first  sent  to  the  school  of  a  Miss 
Bacon  ;    but,  when  he  reached  the  age  of  five  years, 


6  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

he  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Chauncy 
Hall  School,  and  Miss  Nancy  Healey,  afterward  Mrs. 
Elisha  D.  Winslow,  became  his  teacher.  His  education 
was  continued  in  this  school  for  twelve  years,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  months,  during  which  he  was  a 
pupil  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Pike,  of  Dorchester. 

Of  the  time  spent  with  Mr.  Pike  he  always  spoke 
with  great  appreciation  ;  and  on  the  Sunday  following 
Mr.  Pike's  death  he  preached  a  sermon  in  his  church, 
in  which  he  paid  a  loving  tribute  to  his  teacher,  and 
by  vote  of  the  parish  the  sermon  was  printed.  Of  Mr. 
Pike  he  wrote  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  Rev.  Richard  Pike  was  my  teacher  for  several 
months  when  I  was  preparing  for  college,  and  I  had,  by 
living  in  his  family,  the  rare  opportunity  of  beholding 
his  daily  life,  and  could  see  how  far  his  preaching 
threw  a  benediction  over  his  deeds  ;  and  I  do  not  know 
that  I  can  better  describe  his  character  than  by  quoting 
a  few  sentences  from  the  sermon  that  I  preached  the 
first  Sunday  after  his  funeral,  when  I  was  invited  by 
the  committee  of  his  church  to  take  charge  of  the 
services :  — 

"  Your  pastor  came  as  near  as  one  well  could  to  the 
apostolic  description  of  a  good  character.  All  through 
his  life  'he  rejoiced  in  hope.'  All  through  his  sick 
days  he  was  'patient  in  tribulation,'  and  he  was  ever 
'instant  in  prayer.'  The  very  life  of  our  departed 
friend  was  hope, —  not  in  his  own  efforts,  not  in  out- 
ward success,  not  in  any  transient  power  or  by  any 
worldly  definition,  but  hope  in  the  final  inauguration  of 
God's  designs,  which  inauguration,  he  thought,  would 


EARLY    LIFE.  7 

be  brought  about  by  the  unceasing  labors  of  the  various 
generations  of  men.  And,  under  the  magnetism  of 
this  force,  he  bent  himself  to  his  work  in  his  parish 
and  went  on  his  appointed  way,  feeling  that  the  Lord 
was  with  him,  that  the  Father's  grace  would  suffice, 
that  all  his  efforts  made  in  the  right  spirit  would 
gloriously  work  out  their  appointed  end.  He  believed, 
as  much  as  any  man  I  ever  knew,  that  everything  that 
he  did  from  a  holy  motive  would  have  a  holy  fruitage. 
Therefore,  he  never  allowed  himself  to  keep  company 
with  low  spirits,  or  to  distrust  Providence,  or  to  doubt 
the  efficacy  of  rightly  directed  efforts,  even  if  he  could 
not  see  results.  He  was  willing  to  bide  his  time,  and 
God's  good  time,  and  felt  that,  as  God  waited,  so  also 
his  servants  should  not  let  a  cloud  seize  them  because 
difficulties  would  come,  and  seeming  rebuffs  and 
temporary  failures.  From  what  I  know  of  the  tem- 
perament of  my  departed  brother,  I  believe  he  preached 
just  as  well  whether  the  church  was  full  or  empty  ;  in 
troublesome  days  as  joyous ;  ay,  in  weakness  as  in 
strength.  For  he  had  perfect  confidence  in  the  power 
of  truth, —  a  truth  that  could  not  be  hampered  by  any 
human  trials." 

His  faithfulness  in  the  performance  of  his  school 
duties- is  shown  in  the  fact  that  he  received  three 
medals  from  the  Chauncy  Hall  School.  Two  of  these 
medals  were  lost  in  a  fire  at  North  Cambridge.  The 
other  was  given  to  a  friend,  who  many  years  later 
presented  it  to  Dr.  Bradlee's  daughter. 

Meantime  he  had  the  usual  boyish  mishaps,  once 
being  nearly  drowned  in  a  duck-pond,  and  again  being 


8  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

struck  in  the  head  with  a  brick  thrown  by  a  larger  boy. 
There  is  but  little  related  of  these  early  years. 

Occasionally  the  boy  would  write,  anonymously,  for 
the  newspapers ;  and  he  early  began  the  practice  of 
writing  sermons. 

In  1848  he  entered  Harvard  University,  and  during 
the  next  year  received  a  "  Detur."  Among  his  class- 
mates were  the  Hon.  Charles  Thomas  Bonney  of  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  the  Hon.  Addison  Brown,  Professor 
Charles  Taylor  Canfield,  Professor  Cary,  Dr.  and 
Professor  David  W.  Cheever,  Judge  Choate,  the  Hon. 
Joseph  H.  Choate,  Professor  E.  W.  Gurney,  Henry  G. 
Denny,  Esq.,  the  Hon.  William  C.  Williamson,  Dr. 
Samuel  H.  Hurd,  Judge  Hurd,  and  other  well-known 
men. 

On  account  of  illness  he  was  obliged  to  be  absent 
from  college  during  the  last  term  of  the  Senior  year ; 
but  on  graduation  day  he  received  with  his  class- 
mates the  degree  of  A.B.,  no  examination  being 
required  of  him  for  the  months  of  absence. 

In  September,  1852,  he  entered  the  Cambridge 
Divinity  School,  where  he  remained  a  year  and  a  half, 
and  received  a  highly  honorable  dismissal  from  the 
school,  and,  placing  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
F.  D.  Huntington  and  the  Rev.  Rufus  Ellis,  pursued 
his  studies  in  divinity  with  great  interest.  In  due  time 
he  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Cambridge 
Divinity  School.  In  1855  he  received  the  degree  of 
A.M.  from  Harvard. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  Mr.  Bradlee  was 
the  founder   of    the   Boston    Young    Men's    Christian 


EARLY    LIFE.  9 

Union,  although  Dr.  Ezra  Gannett,  in  a  public  speech 
made  many  years  ago,  referred  to  him  as  its  founder. 
The  society  was  born  on  Sept.  17,  1851,  when  Mr. 
Bradlee  was  an  undergraduate  at  Harvard. 

It  was  first  called  the  Biblical  Literature  Society ; 
but  afterward,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Brooks,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Boston  Young 
Men's  Christian  Union.  Young  Bradlee  refused  to 
take  any  office  in  the  new  society  on  account  of 
ill-health ;  but  his  brother,  Nathaniel  J.  Bradlee,  served 
for  several  years  on  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Before  his  active  ministerial  work  began,  he  was 
connected  with  the  Hollis  Street  Sunday-school,  then 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Starr  King. 
At  first,  as  teacher  of  two  Bible  clashes,  and  afterward 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  he  did  much 
toward  making  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school  inter- 
esting to  all ;  and  more  than  one  have  testified  to  the 
inspiration  that  came  to  them  from  his  influence  at 
that  time.  When  he  resigned  his  office,  the  scholars 
gave  him,  as  a  memorial  gift,  Pickering's  Life  of  John 
Milton  ;  and  the  pastor  placed  a  grateful  inscription  at 
the  beginning  of  the  first  volume. 

A  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  Mr.  Charles  S. 
Lynch, -succeeded  him  as  superintendent ;  and,  after  his 
death,  Mr.  Bradlee  wrote  a  memoir  of  him  in  the 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register. 

A  sister  of  Mr.  Lynch,  writing  to  Dr.  Bradlee  in 
1890,  says:  "I  recollect  very  well  how  earnestly  you 
worked  at  Hollis  Street.  How  all  the  children  loved 
you,  and  how  much  my  dear  brother  prized  your  friend- 
ship and  assistance  ! " 


10  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Mr.  Bradlee  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Boston 
Association  of  Ministers  on  the  12th  of  June,  1854,  at 
a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Dr.  George  E.  Ellis  in 
Charlestown,  Mass. 

Of  this  event  he  wrote  many  years  after :  "  A  very 
young  man,  twenty-three  years  old,  appeared  before  the 
Association,  according  to  the  custom  of  those  days, 
that  he  might  receive  his  license  to  preach.  The  sub- 
ject that  was  presented  by  the  candidate  for  that  after- 
noon was  'The  Death  of  Christ,  and  its  Effect  upon 
the  World.'  " 

Among  those  present  who  were  to  decide  the  fate  of 
the  young  man  were  the  following  clergymen :  Dr. 
George  E.  Ellis,  Dr.  Chandler  Robbins,  Dr.  Samuel 
Barrett,  the  Rev.  James  I.  T.  Coolidge,  the  Rev.  F.  D. 
Huntington,  the  Rev.  Rufus  Ellis,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Starr  King,  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Everett,  the  Rev.  Arthur 
B.  Fuller,  and  the  Rev.  S.  B.  Crufts.  The  license  was 
conferred  in  these  words  :  — 

This  is  to  certify  that  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  was  this  day 
approbated  by  the  Boston  Association  of  Ministers  as  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  Rufus  Ellis,  Scribe. 

The  certificates  that  were  presented  to  the  Asso- 
ciation were :  one  of  church  membership,  signed  by 
Thomas  Starr  King ;  a  testimony  to  work  done  at  the 
Cambridge  Divinity  School,  signed  by  Dr.  George  R. 
Noyes,  Dean  of  the  Faculty ;  and  also  a  document  from 
the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Walker,  President  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, indorsing  the  young  man's  standing  when  an 
undergraduate  at  Harvard. 


EARLY    LIFE.  II 

Little  did  this  young  man  think  that  forty  years 
later  he  would  have  just  retired  from  a  two  years' 
service  as  moderator  of  the  Boston  Association  of 
Ministers,  in  which  position  he  had  received  the  love 
and  honor  of  all  the  brethren. 

From  this  time  to  Dec.  II,  1854,  he  preached  in 
several  pulpits  as  transient  supply. 


II. 

NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT. 

December  ii,  1854  —  December  ii,  1857. 


II. 

NORTH    CAMBRIDGE   SETTLEMENT. 

December  ii,  1854  —  December  ii,  1857, 

IN  September,  1854,  nearly  a  year  before  the  com- 
pletion of  the  course  of  study  which  he  had 
planned,  Mr.  Bradlee  received  a  call  to  the  Allen 
Street  Church,  North  Cambridge,  Mass. 

It  was  on  a  very  stormy  Sunday,  Sept.  n,  1854, 
when  he  preached  for  the  first  time  in  this  church ;  and 
on  the  24th  of  September  the  call  to  the  pastorate  was 
given. 

He  consulted  with  his  friend,  the  Rev.  James  Walker, 
D.D.,  President  of  Harvard  College,  who  advised  him 
to  accept  the  call;  and  on  Monday,  Dec.  11,  1854,  he 
was  ordained  to  the  Christian  ministry,  and  began  his 
work  as  a  settled  pastor. 

The  following  "  Letter  Missive "  was  sent  to  the 
several'  churches    or   individuals   mentioned   below :  — 

The   Allen    Street    Society   and   Church    in    North    Ca?nbridge, 
Mass.,  to  the  Church  under  the  care  of  Rev. . 

Greeting  : 

Christian  Brethren, —  Having  with   entire    unanimity    invited 

Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  to  become  our  Pastor,  and  he  having 

accepted  the  invitation,  we  respectfully  request  your  attendance, 


1 6  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

by  your  Pastor  and    Delegate,  at   his   Ordination   on    Monday, 

Dec.  ii,   1854. 

We  are  yours,  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel, 

Thomas  J.  Pierce, 

Chairman  Com.  Society. 

Tames  W.  Baldwin,  >  ^  >  ,7     ~,       7 

•*  ~    ,  '  V  Deacons  of  the  Church. 

Edward  G.  Lynes,    j  J 

N.B. —  The  Council  will  meet  at  Porter's  Hotel  at  9^. 
Services  commence  at  10  o'clock. 

Cars  will  leave  Fitchburg  Depot  at  9  o'clock. 

The  council  met  at  Porter's  Hotel  at  half-past  nine 
o'clock.  The  Rev.  Dr.  James  Walker  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  the  Rev.  Frederic  A.  Whitney  was 
elected  scribe.  The  usual  credentials  were  demanded 
of  the  candidate. 

One  question  alone  was  asked  :  — 

"What  do  you  think  of  Christ?"  To  which  this 
reply  was  given, — 

When  Christ  speaks,  God  speaks. 

The  Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington  then  said,  "I  move  we 
proceed  to  the  ordination."  This  motion  was  carried, 
after  which  the  Rev.  Frederic  A.  Whitney,  of  Brighton, 
Mass.,  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  "right  hand  of 
fellowship,"  in  the  name  of  the  council. 

Services  at  the  church   at   ten  o'clock,  as  follows  : 

Order  of  Services  at  the  Ordination  of  Caleb  Davis 
Bradlee  as  Pastor  of  the  Allen  Street  Church, 
in  Cambridge,  on  Monday,  Dec.  ii,  1854. 

(1)  Voluntary. 

(2)  Hymn. 

(3)  Introductory  Prayer.     Rev.  Dr.  Noyes. 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  1 7 

(4)  Selections  from  Bible.     Rev.  Dr.  Noyes. 

(5)  Hymn.     Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington. 

"  O  Thou  in  whose  eternal  name 
Went  forth  the  apostles'  ardent  host." 

(6)  Sermon.     Rev.  T.  S.  King. 

(7)  Prayer  of  Ordination.     Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington. 

(8)  Hymn. 

(9)  Charge.     Rev.  Dr.  Walker. 

(10)  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship.     Rev.  F.  A.  Whitney. 

(11)  Address  to  the  Society.     Rev.  Rufus  Ellis. 

(12)  Concluding  Prayer.     Rev.  A.  B.  Fuller. 
Benediction  by  the  Pastor. 

In  his  "  Recollections  of  a  Ministry  of  Forty  Years," 
read  before  the  Boston  Association  of  Ministers, 
Jan.  14,  1895,  Dr.  Bradlee  speaks  thus  of  the  ministers 
who  took  part  in  his  ordination  :  — 

"Those  who  took  part  in  the  exercises  were  the 
Rev.  Professor  and  Dr.  George  R.  Noyes,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Starr  King,  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington, 
President  Walker,  the  Rev.  F.  A.  Whitney,  the  Rev. 
Rufus  Ellis,  and  the  Rev.  Arthur  B.  Fuller.  The  Rev. 
F.  D.  Huntington  alone  survives. 

"  Dr.  Noyes  was  well  known  at  the  time,  and  is 
remembered  now  very  gratefully  by  his  surviving 
pupils,  who  to-day  are  numbered  among  the  elders  in 
the  ministry,  but  who  recall  with  pleasure  and  gratitude 
his  calm  and  dignified  manner,  his  accurate  scholarship, 
his  decisive  and  incisive  mind,  his  wonderful  mastership 
of  the  Hebrew  language  and  of  Old  Testament  litera- 
ture, his  broad  outlook  in  theology,  and  his  courteous 
treatment  of  all  under  his  charge ;  not  a  demonstra- 
tive man,  somewhat  reticent  and  reserved,  and  perhaps 


1 8  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

outwardly  stern,  but  with  a  large  heart  and  with  a  keen 
insight  into  human  nature,  honest,  exact,  patient,  and 
forgiving. 

"As  he  was  never  very  strong  in  health,  he  was 
obliged  to  live  a  very  retired  life,  and  could  not  socially 
greet  his  friends  as  frequently  as  he  would  have 
desired;  but  he  was  always  glad  to  receive  those  who 
called  upon  him  for  advice,  and  ever  ready  to  give  a 
helping  hand  to  those  who  needed  his  aid.  I  considered 
it  one  of  my  greatest  privileges  that  I  enjoyed  his 
fellowship  and  friendship  both  in  my  home  and  in  his 
home,  and  that  in  the  early  years  of  my  ministry  I 
could  always  count  on  his  sympathy  and  counsel  as 
sure  to  be  deep  and  wise  and  true  and  loving. 

"The  Rev.  Thomas  Starr  King,  pastor  of  the  Hollis 
Street  Church,  Boston,  was  of  necessity  brought  into 
very  close  relations  with  me,  as  I  was  a  teacher  of  two 
Bible  classes  in  his  church  and  Sunday-school,  and  was 
also  superintendent  of  his  Sunday-school  and  a  member 
of  his  society.  I  always  had  free  access  to  his  home, 
and  he  loaned  me  some  of  his  lectures  for  my  perusal 
and  study.  Two  of  these  lectures,  I  remember,  im- 
pressed me  very  deeply ;  namely,  '  Substance  and 
Show'  and  'Socrates.' 

"  I  think  that  but  very  few  can  understand  his  full 
power  as  a  preacher  except  those  who  from  week  to 
week  were  privileged  to  hear  him  speak.  Some  of  his 
lectures  that  he  gave  on  Sunday  afternoons  upon  the 
characters  in  the  Bible  were  extremely  powerful, 
striking,  and  impressive  ;  and  I  wish  that  they  might 
be  gathered  together  in  a  book  for  the  use  of  students 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  19 

and  for  the  instruction  of  us  all.  When  quite  a  young 
man,  he  reported  the  lectures  on  Philosophy  that  were 
delivered  by  Dr.  Walker  before  the  Lowell  Institute  ; 
and  Dr.  Walker  was  greatly  astonished  at  the  accuracy 
of  the  reports  and  at  the  interest  which  the  young  man 
took  in  the  subjects  presented.  All  these  reports  were 
placed  in  my  hand  by  Mr.  King,  and  I  can  hardly  con- 
ceive how  a  person  not  twenty  then  could  have  entered 
into  the  deep  and  abstruse  subjects  that  were  presented 
by  one  of  the  best  of  our  scholars.  It  was  Mr.  King's 
great  desire,  as  he  told  me,  to  write  before  he  died  a 
book  on  some  philosophical  subject;  and  he  went  to 
California  with  the  idea  that  he  could  secure  there  the 
leisure  that  was  needed  for  the  carrying  out  of  his 
purpose.  The  workings  of  his  mind  were  very  rapid, 
clear,  and  logical.  He  could  dictate  to  his  amanuensis 
while  playing  ball  with  his  little  daughter,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  the  Hon.  Horace  Davis  of  San  Francisco ; 
and  the  little  Edith  enjoyed  nothing  better  than  a 
romp  with  her  father,  while  that  father  was  at  the  same 
time  preparing  lectures  for  the  field  and  sermons  for 
the  pulpit. 

"  Many  persons  thought  that  he  could  have  no  time 
for  study,  as  from  Monday  to  Saturday,  during  a  large 
part  of  his  ministry,  he  was  travelling  all  over  the 
country  for  the  benefit  of  lyceums ;  and  yet  each 
Sunday  morning  —  and  sometimes  he  did  not  reach 
Boston  till  Sunday  morning — he  would  appear  in  the 
pulpit  as  bright  and  as  earnest  and  as  original  and  as 
eloquent  as  if  he  had  spent  the  whole  week  in  his 
study,  and  had  prolonged  his  studies  into  the  hours  of 


2  0  IN    MEMORIAM  '.    C  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

the  night.  He  was  a  man  having  a  large,  loving,  and 
generous  heart,  and  he  gave  away  during  his  short  life 
thousands  and  thousands  of  dollars  to  those  who  were 
in  need ;  and,  what  is  better,  his  door  was  always  open 
to  the  strangers  who  wanted  counsel,  and  his  loving 
words  and  gifts  sent  many  away  from  his  home  inspired 
with  a  new  life. 

"Notwithstanding  his  great  literary  tastes  and  the 
thorough  occupation  of  his  time,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  genial  of  companions.  He  was  fond  of  a  good 
joke,  ready  with  a  repartee,  and  had  a  contagious  laugh 
that  sent  sunshine  into  very  many  hearts.  I  remember 
asking  him  once  who  wrote  the  book  of  Job ;  and  he 
answered,  '  It  would  be  a  hard  job  to  tell/  Once,  as  he 
was  going  toward  the  lyceum,  where  he  was  to  give  a 
lecture,  he  said  to  his  friends  who  were  with  him,  '  As 
the  doorkeeper  does  not  know  me,  let  us  have  a  little 
frolic.'  So,  after  his  friends  went  into  the  building,  he 
went  to  the  man  who  took  the  tickets,  and  said :  '  I  am 
very  anxious  to  hear  Mr.  King  to-night,  and  I  do  not 
really  feel  that  I  can  buy  a  ticket.  Will  you  allow  me 
a  free  entrance  to  the  hall  ? '  *  I  would,'  the  man 
replied,  '  on  any  other  night ;  but  this  evening  the  hall 
will  be  crowded,  and  will  be  more  than  full.'  Mr.  King 
kept  pleading  and  pleading,  till  the  man  ordered  him 
roughly  away.  '  Very  well,'  he  said,  '  I  will  go  away  ; 
but,  unless  you  will  admit  me,  there  cannot  possibly  be 
any  lecture  given  this  evening.'  '  What,'  said  the  man, 
'are  you  Mr.  King?'  No  more  opposition  was  made 
to  his  free  entrance.  Brother  King  always  made  it  a 
rule  to  interest  himself  in  the  pursuits  of  any  persons 
that  he  might  meet. 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  2  1 

"Once  on  riding  on  the  outside  of  a  coach  at  the 
White  Mountains  he  entertained  the  driver,  and  drew 
out  of  him  a  great  deal  of  knowledge,  and  kept  all  on 
the  outside  full  of  amusement  and  information,  when,  a 
heavy  rain  coming,  he  took  a  seat  inside  of  the  coach. 
One  of  the  gentlemen  who  remained  on  the  outside 
said  to  the  driver,  '  Do  you  know  who  that  man  was  ? ' 
*  No,'  was  the  reply,  '  some  young  boy  from  Boston,  I 
suppose.'  'Driver,  that  little  boy  from  Boston  is  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Starr  King,  pastor  of  one  of  the  leading 
churches  in  that  city.' 

"  Of  course,  we  all  know  what  a  courageous  man  our 
brother  was, — how  in  the  face  of  his  leading  parishioners 
he  took  part  with  the  slave ;  and  how  in  California, 
when  surrounded  by  armed  secessionists,  who  were 
prepared  to  take  his  life,  he  uttered  clearly  and  elo- 
quently his  honest  convictions,  and  secured  the  respect 
of  his  opponents  ;  how,  too,  when  the  last  hour  came, 
and  he  knew  that  very  soon  he  would  be  with  God,  he 
repeated  calmly  the  Twenty-third  Psalm,  bade  good-by 
to  his  dear  ones,  threw  a  kiss  to  the  youngest  child, — 
now  a  very  successful  lawyer  in  California, —  and  went 
instantly  to  sleep.  The  time  has  not  yet  come  for  a 
full  description  of  this  wonderful  man,  who  possessed 
so  many  varying  gifts  that  do  not  usually  coalesce,  and 
who  yet  passed  away  from  earth  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-nine. 

"The  Rev.  Fred.  D.  Huntington,  who  offered  the 
ordaining  prayer  at  my  ordination,  and  who  was  then 
called  one  of  the  most  eloquent  preachers  of  Boston, 
and  who  is  now  bishop  of  Central   New  York,  was  a 


22  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

man  who  seemed  to  draw  all  classes  to  his  church, 
having  crowded  houses  morning  and  afternoon.  Often- 
times two  families  owned  one  pew,  one  going  in  the 
morning  and  one  in  the  afternoon.  He  had,  I  suppose, 
one  of  the  largest  Bible  classes  that  was  known  at  that 
time, —  a  class  that  met  in  his  vestry  on  one  of  the 
week-day  evenings  ;  and  he  was  almost  worshipped  by 
those  of  both  sexes  from  six  to  forty-five.  I  once  heard 
President  Walker  describe  the  two  men,  Huntington 
and  King.  Huntington,  he  said,  had  the  greatest  gift 
of  expression  of  any  man  who  had  appeared  for  one 
hundred  years  or  who  would  appear  for  one  hundred 
years  to  come;  but  King,  he  added,  was  the  greater 
genius. 

"Probably  there  never  was  in  any  church  so  great  an 
excitement  and  almost  warfare  when  suddenly  Mr. 
Huntington  told  his  parishioners  that  he  should  accept 
the  Plummer  Professorship  established  at  Harvard 
College.  I  am  told  that  some  very  hard  words  were 
used,  and  everything  was  done  to  induce  the  pastor  to 
reconsider  his  acceptance,  but  to  no  purpose.  He  went 
to  the  college,  and  was  said  by  many  to  have  made  the 
greatest  mistake  of  his  life;  for  with  all  his  gifts, 
which  really  were  marvellous,  and  with  his  great  power 
with  the  professors  and  tutors  of  the  college,  he  really 
did  not  have  the  gift  of  helping  a  large  number  of 
the  young  men  in  Cambridge.  After  a  few  years  he 
resigned  his  professorship,  and  entered  the  Episcopal 
Church,  where  now  he  is  pre-eminently  distinguished, 
having  lately  celebrated  his  quarter  of  a  century  in  the 
episcopate.  It  will  be  for  others  to  speak  of  him  more 
fully  after  his  work  in  life  is  finished. 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  23 

"Dr.  Walker  gave  the  charge, —  a  graduate  of 
Harvard,  a  preacher  in  Charlestown,  a  professor  in  the 
college,  and  finally  the  president.  At  the  time  that  he 
took  part  he  was  the  president  of  the  college,  and  there- 
fore I  had  the  singular  felicity  of  securing  both  the 
benediction  of  the  college  and  the  benediction  of  the 
man.  He  was  a  philosopher  and  a  saint.  I  can  see 
now  his  calm  but  spiritual  face.  I  can  hear  now  his 
dignified  and  impressive  voice.  I  can  feel  now  the 
solemnity  of  his  manner.  He  was  filled  with  kindness 
and  with  wisdom,  clear  in  his  judgment,  sound  in  his 
reason,  with  perhaps  imagination  a  little  in  abeyance, 
but  with  common  sense  in  very  large  measure,  reverent, 
solid,  dignified,  and  noble  in  every  possible  way. 
When  you  were  with  him,  you  felt  that  you  were  in 
the  presence  of  one  who  kept  very  near  to  God.  His 
sight  and  his  insight  were  very  great ;  and  his  words 
were  ponderous,  but  always  becoming  and  striking, — 
'a  well  of  English  undefined.' 

"  I  remember  once  when  he  christened  a  child,  and 
father  and  mother  were  standing  right  before  him  with 
the  child,  he  began  his  prayer  with  these  exceedingly 
appropriate  words,  '  O  Thou  in  whom  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  are  blessed.' 

"  That  child  lived  only  eight  months  ;  and  after  her 
death  Dr.  Walker  called  upon  the  parents,  and,  handing 
to  them  a  silver  remembrance,  said,  'I  meant  this  for 
the  child,  and  perhaps  now  you  may  like  to  keep  it  as 
a  memorial  of  the  child.'  Does  not  that  simple  act 
show  that  the  man  had  a  great  and  a  loving  heart  ? 
He   was   a  wonderful   person   for    settling  difficulties 


24  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

without  any  display  of  temper.  During  his  administra- 
tion of  the  college  a  young  man  who  was  in  the 
Divinity  School  gave  an  exhibition  of  spiritual  hands, 
as  they  were  called ;  and  it  was  proved,  when  the 
lights  were  suddenly  put  into  full  force,  that  the  whole 
exhibition  was  a  fraud,  and  the  spiritual  hands  had  very 
mortal  coverings.  The  young  man  was  expelled  from 
the  school,  and  went  to  President  Walker  in  great 
anger,  and  said  to  him  that  it  was  outrageous  that  a 
pupil  should  be  dismissed  from  the  Divinity  School  for 
being  a  Spiritualist.  'Young  man/  replied  the  presi- 
dent, 'we  do  not  turn  you  out  of  the  school  because  you 
are  a  Spiritualist,  but  we  turn  you  out  of  the  school 
because  you  are  not  a  Spiritualist!  Dr.  Walker  always 
gave  utterance  to  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  a  very  few 
words.  I  remember  that  some  one  told  me  who  heard 
him  preach  in  Dr.  Lowell's  church,  when  he  had  first 
commenced  his  ministry,  what  a  great  impression  he 
made  upon  the  immense  audience  that  gathered  in  that 
church.  When  the  time  for  the  sermon  came,  he  took 
for  the  words  of  his  text,  'The  love  of  money  is  the 
root  of  all  evil.'  He  then  made  quite  a  pause,  and 
finally  said,  *  I  say,  //  is  not!  Of  course  there  was 
great  silence,  and  everybody  looked  at  him.  In  those 
days  people  were  not  accustomed  to  hear  any  part  of 
the  Bible  criticised.  After  waiting  awhile,  he  added, 
1  It  is  the  false  love  of  money  that  is  the  root  of  all  evil, 
but  the  true  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  good ' ;  and 
then  he  went  on,  and  gave  a  sermon  that  electrified  the 
congregation. 

"  I  think  that  one  who  has  read  his  two  volumes  of 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  25 

sermons  —  and  they  are  worth  reading  and  studying  — 
will  be  surprised  at  his  wonderful  way  of  putting  the 
case,  so  that  you  must  listen  and  you  cannot  help  being 
convinced.  Dr.  Walker  had  a  great  dread  of  having 
any  of  his  writings  printed,  and  on  this  account  future 
generations  will  not  understand  the  great  power  that 
he  exerted  on  his  own  generation.  I  wish  that  every 
sermon  that  he  ever  preached  and  every  lecture  that 
he  ever  delivered  and  every  biography  that  he  ever 
sketched  could  be  given  to  us.  His  influence,  however, 
will  go  on  forever  through  the  thousands  of  young  men 
whom  he  has  taught  and  through  those  whom  they  shall 
teach,  a  perpetual  echo  from  generation  to  generation. 
In  the  pulpit,  in  the  college,  and  everywhere  he  will  be 
a  constant  benediction. 

"The  right  hand  of  fellowship  was  given  by  the 
Rev.  Fred.  A.  Whitney.  He  was  a  man  who  gave  a 
large  part  of  his  time  to  statistics.  He  knew  the  his- 
tory of  every  church  and  every  minister.  He  had  the 
most  perfect  library  concerning  ordinations  and  instal- 
lations and  councils  and  foundations  of  churches.  He 
could  be  consulted  on  all  ecclesiastical  matters  for 
hundreds  of  years ;  and  yet  with  all  this  knowledge  he 
was  gentle  and  loving  and  cheerful,  and  not  wholly 
dried  up  and  exclusive  and  authoritative,  as  so  many 
are  in  danger  of  being  who  give  up  their  lives  to  the 
gathering  of  facts  and  dates.  He  loved  the  church  and 
the  brethren  and  all  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  I 
think  that  his  heart  was  almost  broken  when  he  felt 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  give  up  the  pulpit  that  is  now 
held  by  Brother  Walkley. 


26  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

"  He  never  wanted  to  settle  anywhere  after  he  left 
Brighton,  but  he  gave  his  time  to  the  building  up  of 
the  library  in  that  part  of  Boston  and  in  giving  labors 
of  love  to  the  brethren  when  they  needed  his  help. 
His  last  sickness  was  a  long  one ;  but  he  met  the  dis- 
cipline bravely,  and  surrendered  his  life  submissively  to 
the  Giver  of  the  same.  He  left  a  request  that  I  should 
be  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  his  funeral ;  and  it  was  a 
sad  privilege  that  I  had  of  thus  doing  honor  to  his 
memory,  with  Dr.  George  E.  Ellis,  Professor  Torrey, 
and  Dr.  Wyman  as  associates. 

"The  Rev.  Rufus  Ellis  addressed  the  people,  —  the 
scholarly  gentleman  and  the  gentlemanly  scholar,  the 
faithful  pastor,  the  able  preacher,  the  successful  teacher 
in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  the  self-sacrificing  friend,  a 
man  of  prayer  and  a  man  of  principle,  quiet,  unostenta- 
tious, frugal,  and  one  whom  you  could  always  trust  and 
could  never  fail  to  respect.  It  cannot  be  said  that  he 
was  one  of  our  greatest  orators,  or  that  among  all  the 
churches  he  was  looked  upon  as  the  leading  preacher  of 
the  day  ;  but  among  his  own  people  he  was  so  admired 
and  beloved  that  his  weekly  administrations  always 
brought  a  blessing,  and  at  times  he  would  be  so  carried 
away  by  his  subject  as  to  almost  unconsciously  rise 
into  the  impassioned  speaker. 

"  His  writings  reminded  us  of  some  of  the  best  old 
English  preachers,  and  you  never  could  find  a  word  out 
of  place  or  a  sentence  unfinished.  It  always  seemed  to 
me  one  of  the  great  mistakes  of  the  day  that,  when 
President  Hill  resigned,  Rufus  Ellis  was  not  chosen  his 
successor   as    President   of   Harvard  College ;  and,  in 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  27 

making  this  remark,  I  would  not  reflect  for  one  mo- 
ment on  the  administration  that  followed,  and  that  has 
been  so  bright  a  one  for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  Dr. 
Ellis  went  suddenly  to  God,  in  Liverpool,  as  he  was 
about  to  start  for  the  city  of  his  birth  and  for  the  place 
where  so  much  of  his  life-work  was  so  faithfully  accom- 
plished. 

"The  Rev.  Arthur  B.  Fuller  offered  the  closing 
prayer.  He  was  a  very  different  man  from  all  those 
whom  we  have  mentioned,  a  character  extremely  origi- 
nal and  pronounced.  His  great  power  among  a  num- 
ber of  people  came  from  his  exceeding  earnestness  of 
spirit,  his  wonderful  industry,  his  positive  manner,  his 
well-informed  and  clearly  expressed  convictions,  his 
almost  unconscious  but  decidedly  imperative  presenta- 
tion of  his  views  and  his  feeling.  Yet  he  was  a  man 
whom  you  felt  was  truly  consecrated,  who  tried  faith- 
fully to  do  his  Master's  work,  who  was  ready  in  season 
and  out  of  season  to  build  up  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
who  had  rather  die  than  yield  one  iota  his  judgment  of 
what  he  thought  was  right,  true,  honest,  and  holy. 

"  He  could  hardly  understand  or  make  allowances  for 
the  frivolity  of  youth ;  and  sometimes  at  his  weekly 
meetings,  when  his  hearers  became  careless  or  inatten- 
tive or  restless,  they  would  meet  with  a  rebuke  that 
they  would  be  sure  never  to  forget. 

"  Brother  Fuller  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  accept 
the  position  of  chaplain  in  the  war  that  was  waged  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  Union ;  and  his  enthusiasm 
perhaps,  that  somewhat  smothered  his  judgment,  in- 
duced him  to  enter  Fredericksburg  with  a  gun  in  his 


28  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

hand  as  a  combatant,  when  a  shot  from  one  of  the 
defenders  of  that  place  closed  his  earthly  account. 
His  funeral  services  were  largely  attended  in  Boston, 
and  clergymen  of  different  sects  officiated.  All  felt 
that  a  brave  man  and  a  hard  worker  and  a  consecrated 
spirit  had  gone  to  God." 

In  later  days  Dr.  Bradlee  used  to  refer  pleasantly  to 
his  line  of  "Apostolic  Succession,"  which  he  traced 
through  laying  on  of  hands,  as  follows  :  — 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  laid  his 
hands  on  Dr.  Appleton,  of  Cambridge,  1717. 

Dr.  Appleton  ordained  Dr.  Osgood,  of  Medford, 
Sept.  14,  1774. 

Dr.  Osgood  ordained  Dr.  W.  E.  Channing,  June  1, 
1803. 

Dr.  Channing  ordained  Dr.  N.  L.  Frothingham, 
March  15,  1815. 

Dr.  Frothingham  ordained  Dr.  F.  D.  Huntington, 
Oct.  19,  1842. 

Dr.  Huntington  ordained  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  Dec. 
11,  1854. 

The  North  Cambridge  ministry  was  one  in  which 
Mr.  Bradlee  found  much  satisfaction,  and  he  endeared 
himself  greatly  to  the  people. 

Like  every  young  man  brought  face  to  face  with  the 
demands  of  a  parish,  he  found  plenty  to  do ;  and  he 
was  not  one  to  shirk  any  responsibility.     He  says  : — 

"  At  the  time  of  my  settlement  the  whole  arrange- 
ment of  our  churches  was  different  from  what  it  is  to- 
day. A  great  deal  more  work  was  required  of  the 
young  man  on  Sunday  and  a  great  deal  more  visiting 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  29 

during  the  week.  Every  minister  was  expected  to  call 
at  each  home  at  least  twice  in  the  year,  and  every 
week  in  cases  of  sickness.  The  minister's  house  was 
the  home  of  his  people  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
evening ;  and,  also,  if  he  were  invited,  he  was  expected 
to  be  always  ready  for  dinner  or  supper  or  an  evening 
entertainment.  I  was  relieved  from  a  great  deal  of 
this  kind  of  visiting ;  but  it  was  all  made  up  to  me  by 
the  calls  at  my  house  and  by  the  many  choice  gifts  of 
dainty  food  that  were  constantly  sent  to  my  home. 

"  Many  an  evening,  and  oftentimes  after  I  had  re- 
tired, my  door-bell  would  ring,  and  a  servant  would 
leave  a  large  tray  filled  with  well-cooked  birds  of  dif- 
ferent kinds,  with  pies,  cake,  and  the  choicest  fruit. 
On  Sundays  the  clergyman  was  always  expected  to 
preach  morning  and  afternoon ;  and  he  must  be  in  the 
Sunday-school,  and  oftentimes  was  expected  to  hold  a 
special  meeting  for  some  church  purpose  after  the 
afternoon  service,  and  in  the  evening  of  Sunday  he  had 
a  reception  at  his  house  of  such  members  of  the  so- 
ciety as  might  like  to  call.  Many  an  evening,  after 
three  services  in  the  day,  I  was  so  completely  fatigued 
as  hardly  to  be  able  to  stand  or  speak,  and  yet  have 
been  obliged  to  entertain  callers,  dear  friends,  too, 
whom  I*  respected  and  loved,  but  who  would  stay  and 
stay  till  I  thought  they  never  would  go ;  and  all  this 
was  simply  because  they  did  not  think  that  I  possibly 
could  be  tired  by  such  easy  work  as  preaching  and  talk- 
ing, and  they  looked  upon  the  minister's  duties  as  very 
light  and  easy.  Would  that  they  had  only  taken  the 
pastor's  place  for  just  one  Sunday  ! 


30  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

"The  ministers,  as  a  general  rule,  when  I  was  settled, 
had  very  little  to  do  with  outside  matters.  They  were 
expected  to  accept  a  position  on  the  school  committee, 
but  were  considered  rather  out  of  place  in  any  other 
position  ;  and  the  men  who  dared  to  attend  an  anti- 
slavery  meeting  or  a  political  meeting  were  ostracized 
at  once. 

"The  parish  work  in  the  pulpit  and  among  the  fam- 
ilies was  considered  the  chief  duty  of  the  pastor,  and 
the  laymen  were  expected  to  look  after  outside  mat- 
ters. I  was  especially  charged  by  Dr.  Walker  to  look 
after  my  own  people  and  the  schools,  and  to  let  other 
things  alone. " 

During  this  pastorate,  on  June  7,  1855,  he  married 
Miss  Caroline  Gay,  youngest  child  of  George  and 
Nancy  Lovering  Gay,  of  Boston,  and  sister  of  the 
well-known  surgeon,  Dr.  George  H.  Gay.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now  living, —  Mrs.  Eliza  Williams  Bradlee  Smith,  who 
married  Walter  C.  Smith,  Esq.,  June  12,  1895.  The 
other  two  children  died  in  infancy :  Nancy  Gay,  born 
Dec.  23,  1858,  died  Sept.  4,  1859.  Bertha,  born  Feb. 
28,  1866,  and  died  the  same  day. 

In  1858  and  in  i860  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  School  Committee  of  Cambridge,  Mass. ;  and 
in  i860  he  was  chosen  one  of  a  special  committee  of  the 
High  School  in  Cambridge.  His  plan,  at  this  time, 
was  that  the  teacher,  not  the  member  of  the  com- 
mittee, should  be  the  questioner,  and  that  the  com- 
mittee should  listen  to  question  and  answer,  and  form 
their  opinion  of  both.     All  through    his   life   he   was 


NORTH    CAMBRIDGE    SETTLEMENT.  3 1 

opposed  to  public  examinations,  asserting  that  the  man 
of  good  memory,  but  little  natural  ability,  would  suc- 
ceed, in  such  cases,  better  than  his  deeper  and  more 
able  brother. 

At  the  time  of  his  settlement  at  North  Cambridge 
many  of  his  friends  felt  sure  that  the  society  which 
gave  him  the  call  would  not  be  able  to  continue  for  a 
long  time  such  financial  support  as  they  promised  him. 
This  proved  to  be  true,  and  in  1857  it  was  mutually 
agreed  that  a  separation  should  be  made  between  pastor 
and  people. 

The  society  passed  the  following  resolution  :  — 

Resolved,  That  the  society  bear  testimony  to  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  Mr.  Bradlee's  ministerial  duties,  and  would  tender  him 
their  warm  regards  and  esteem  for  the  many  tokens  of  kindness 
and  sympathy  lavished  upon  them  during  his  pastorship ;  and  they 
pray  him  to  receive  the  assurance  that,  wherever  he  may  labor  in 
the  future,  he  will  have  their  heartiest  wishes  for  his  success  and 
happiness. 

Attest :  J.  W.  Baldwin,  Clerk. 

The  letters  that  passed  between  them  at  the  time  are 
full  of  tender  affection,  and  in  his  letter  of  resignation 
he  says,  "  My  heart  is  too  full  to  say  to  you  'farewell ' ; 
and  may  I  not  hope,  although  I  shall  leave  Cambridge, 
yet  to  "be  in  constant  spiritual  fellowship  with  your 
souls  ? " 

Such  fellowship  was  indeed  his  through  life  with 
many  who  were  members  of  his  first  parish. 

As  long  as  he  lived,  he  was  frequently  called  upon  by 
members  of  his  early  charge  to  attend  special  services 
in   their  families.     This  was   notably  the  case  in  one 


32  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

family.  The  very  day  after  his  settlement  at  North 
Cambridge  he  baptized  a  gentleman  and  lady ;  and, 
from  time  to  time,  up  to  Nov.  20,  1895,  his  special  ser- 
vices in  this  one  family,  in  four  generations,  amounted 
to  twenty-three  in  number.  Of  these  fourteen  were 
baptisms,  five  were  funerals,  and  four  were  weddings. 

The  last  sermon  as  pastor  of  Allen  Street  Church, 
North  Cambridge,  was  preached  Dec.  6,  1857.  The 
text  was,  "  Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ? "  The  commun- 
ion service  was  observed,  and  this  closed  what  he 
always  called  the  "first  period"  of  his  ministry. 

He  continued  to  live  in  Cambridge  until  i860,  when 
he  moved  to  Roxbury. 


III. 

TRANSIENT    SUPPLIES    AND 
EAST    BOSTON. 

December  ii,   1857 — April  3,  1864. 


III. 

TRANSIENT  SUPPLIES  AND  EAST  BOSTON. 
December  ii,  1857  —  April  3,  1864. 

AFTER  resigning  at  North  Cambridge,  Mr.  Bradlee 
was  several  years  without  a  settlement  as  pastor 
of  a  parish  ;  but  the  ministry  continued  to  be  full  of 
good  works.  He  called  it  the  "  second  period  "  of  his 
ministry  from  Dec,  11,  1857,  to  June,  1861,  during 
which  time  he  supplied  the  pulpits  of  North  End 
Mission  and  Hale's  South  End  Mission  in  Boston,  Fall 
River,  Kingston,  Nantucket,  Plymouth,  and  Sterling. 
He  also  acted  as  pastor  at  the  churches  of  the  Rev. 
S.  B.  Crufts  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Pike  during  pro- 
longed absences  of  these  pastors.  He  was  offered  calls 
from  Fall  River ;  Christian  Unity,  Boston ;  Newton- 
ville ;  Charleston,  S.C. 

During  this  period  he  began  to  show  special  interest 
in  the  work  of  historical  societies,  and  was  closely 
identified  with  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical 
Society.  *  He  gave  frequent  lectures  before  its  mem- 
bers, and  served  three  years  as  its  corresponding 
secretary  and  three  years  as  its  recording  secretary. 

The  state  of  his  health  was  such  as  to  prevent  his 
acceptance  of  long  periods  of  service  at  this  time  ;  and 
in  January,  1859,  he  suffered  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever, 
which  continued  through  the  whole  of  February. 


36  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

He  gave  such  time  as  he  was  able  to  literary  work, 
especially  in  preparation  of  lectures  on  Fenelon,  Milton, 
Heber,  and  other  famous  characters. 

He  was  always  willing  to  give  a  "  labor  of  love  "  to 
brother  ministers,  and  many  such  are  recorded  in  the 
"  Sunday  Record." 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Bradlee  took  the  charge  of  the  Church 
of  Our  Father  in  East  Boston.  His  work  here  lasted 
for  nearly  three  years,  as  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Warren  H. 
Cudworth,  was  chaplain  in  the  United  States  Army. 
These  three  years  were  both  happy  years  for  the 
pastor  and  prosperous  years  for  the  church.  The  ser- 
vices were  well  attended  ;  and  Mr.  Bradlee  was  always 
received  with  great  enthusiasm  whenever  he  appeared 
in  the  pulpit,  and  his  discourses  were  often  reported 
in  the  East  Boston  papers.  He  always  spoke  of  his 
pastorate  in  this  church  as  one  of  the  happiest  chapters 
in  his  life,  and  the  members  of  the  society  gave  to  him 
many  loyal  pledges  of  their  appreciation  and  good  will. 

This  he  calls  the  "  third  period  "  of  his  ministry,  and 
he  speaks  of  it  as  the  real  commencement  of  his  useful- 
ness as  a  minister.  Twenty-five  years  later  he  wrote, 
"These  years  were  very  happy  ones  to  me,  and  my 
whole  ministry  in  East  Boston  was  a  perfect  ovation." 

The  spirit  of  his  preaching  in  regard  to  the  war  may 
be  seen  in  the  following  extract  from  a  sermon  preached 
May  18,  1862:  — 

"  God  is  love." —  1  St.  John  iv.  8. 

"  Brethren,  I  have  considered  this  a  fitting  season  to 
speak  about   love.     One  year  ago,  when   treason  was 


TRANSIENT    SUPPLIES    AND    EAST    BOSTON.  37 

triumphant  in  the  land ;  when  the  best  government  the 
world  has  ever  seen  trembled  in  its  foundations ;  when 
patriots  all  over  the  earth  viewed  with  dismay  the  state 
of  our  country  ;  when  our  own  hearts  failed  us  as  we 
weighed  the  magnitude  of  the  impending  danger; 
when  our  husbands,  sons,  and  brothers  rushed,  with 
armor  on  and  under  the  panoply  of  our  prayers,  to 
defend  the  laws  of  our  land ;  when  commerce  was 
blasted,  and  coin  was  scarce,  and  the  banks  were 
startled,  and  all  things  were  shadowed, —  then  some 
might  have  said,  God  is  a  mystery  ;  others,  he  is  cruel ; 
still  others,  he  is  angry ;  and  all  must  have  felt  that  for 
some  reason  he  was  about  to  chastise  his  children  in 
this  favored  portion  of  the  globe  with  terrible  stripes. 

"  But  a  year  has  passed ;  and,  although  our  punish- 
ment has  been  severe,  how  much  less  severe  than  we 
had  anticipated  !  We  can  now  truly  say,  God  is  love, 
because  he  has  spared  us  so  much,  because  he  has 
rebuked  disloyalty,  because  he  bids  us  hope  for  re- 
union, because  he  seems  about  to  re-establish  our 
government  on  a  firmer  basis  than  ever  before.  And, 
now  that  power  is  about  to  fall  again  into  our  hands, 
ought  we  not  to  ask,  in  the  spirit  of  our  text,  How 
shall  we  use  that,  power  toward  those  who  have  been 
placed  in  our  hands  as  prisoners  of  war,  or  who  will  yet, 
as  submissionists,  become  subject  to  our  jurisdiction  ? 

"  Let  no  one  start  as  I  ask  this  question.  I  ask  it  as 
a  Christian,  not  as  a  politician.  I  do  not  deem  my  office 
or  the  pulpit  the  place  for  the  discussion  of  party  ques- 
tions. The  caucus  is  instituted  for  such  questions,  and 
there  they  should  be  confined.     I  ask  as  a  Christian 


38  IN    MEMORIAM  :     C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

minister,  What  shall  we  do  with  our  captives  of  war  ? 
Many  answers  will  be  given,  I  am  aware,  such  as  these: 
disfranchise  them  ;  confiscate  their  property ;  imprison 
them  ;  hang  them.  I  have  but  one  answer  to  give,  — 
Love  them,  for  God  is  love.  Remember  the  prayer, 
1  Forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors.'  Let 
us  deal  with  our  opponents  entirely  with  a  loving  spirit. 
If  necessity  requires  us  to  punish  with  some  severity 
the  leaders  of  the  rebellion,  let  us  at  least  manage  the 
necessity  charitably  and  with  no  vindictiveness.  In  a 
somewhat  close  study  of  late  into  English  rebellions,  I 
have  found  that  in  almost  all  cases  insurgents  as  a  mass 
were  treated  leniently,  the  leaders  only  being  punished, 
and  whole  thousands  being  freed  with  nothing  more 
than  admonition ;  and  the  effect  on  the  whole  has 
proved  salutary,  the  pardoned  ones  being  converted 
through  gratitude  into  the  most  loyal  of  subjects.  Let 
us  then,  brethren,  in  all  our  dealings  with  our  enemies, 
by  conversation,  by  writing,  by  thinking,  remember  that 
God  is  love  ;  and  let  us  never  allow  our  passions  to 
smother  our  Christianity.  Then  shall  we  convert  a 
most  direful  civil  war  into  a  holy  instruction  for  our 
souls,  into  a  means  by  which  we  shall  attain  on  earth 
peace,  and  at  last  in  heaven  coronation." 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1863,  Mr.  Bradlee  was  drafted 
for  service  in  the  United  States  Army.  He  was  ex- 
empted on  account  of  physical  inability.  Of  this  ex- 
perience he  writes :  "  C.  D.  B.  is  an  exempt  physically ; 
but,  were  this  not  the  case,  no  power  on  earth  could 
make  him  go  as  a  soldier.  As  chaplain,  he  would  very 
willingly  bear  his  part  of  the  burden  of  the  war." 


TRANSIENT    SUPPLIES    AND    EAST    BOSTON.  39 

The  last  sermon  as  pastor  pro-tem.  at  East  Boston 
was  preached  April  3,  1864:  "Therefore  watch,  and 
remember  that  for  the  space  of  three  years  I  ceased 
not  to  warn  everyone."  The  pleasantest  relations  con- 
tinued for  life  between  him  and  the  East  Boston  people. 
A  few  days  after  his  departure  from  East  Boston,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  installation  to  his  new  pastorate, 
they  decorated  the  pulpit  with  flowers  and  sent  a  most 
touching  letter,  with  a  request  that  it  be  publicly  read. 

A  few  years  later  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  of 
which  Mr.  Bradlee  was  still  pastor,  gave  a  beautiful 
communion  table  to  the  East  Boston  society,  to  be 
placed  in  their  new  church. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1896,  Dr.  Bradlee  wrote  the 
following  letter :  — 

The  Three  Arches,  Fisher  Avenue, 
Brookline,  Mass.,  15  Jan.,  1896. 

From  Caleb  Davis   Bradlee  to   Those  who  worship   in  the 
Church  of  Our  Father,  East  Boston,  Mass. 

My  former  Parishioners  and  constant  Friends, —  The 
invitation  to  attend  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  for- 
mation of  your  church  has  given  me  great  pleasure; 
and  I  really  wish  that  I  could  be  with  you,  and  tell  you 
what  a  happy  time  I  had  when  I  occupied  your  pulpit, 
from  1 86 1  to  1864,  while  Brother  Cud  worth  was  chap- 
lain in  the  army. 

I  remember  with  deep  and  earnest  gratitude  your 
unceasing  kindness  from  the  moment  I  first  met  you 
till  I  parted  from  you  to  take  charge  of  another  church. 
I  was  sure  every  Sunday  that  the  church  would  be  full ; 
and  with  loving  patience  I  knew  you  would  listen  to 


40  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

the  young  man,  and  would  encourage  him  in  every  pos- 
sible way. 

I  was  received  at  your  homes  with  a  true  and  loyal 
fellowship,  and  from  that  time  till  the  present  hour 
your  friendship  has  been  a  perpetual  benediction. 

Let  me  frankly  say  that  I  attribute  every  success  I 
may  have  had  in  life  to  your  tuition,  encouragement, 
and  constant  affection.  I  often  say  that  I  never  really 
knew  how  to  preach  till  the  people  in  East  Boston 
called  out  what  powers  I  had,  and  taught  the  young  man 
what  culture  and  grace  could  be  secured  when  there 
was  a  listening  and  appreciating  audience. 

With  these  feelings  I  deeply  regret  that  I  cannot 
say  to  you  in  person  what  I  have  written  in  this  note. 

Be  assured  that  I  am  conscious  how  much  I  owe  to 
you  all,  and  how  grateful  I  am  for  the  early  education 
that  I  received  in  your  church. 

Most  cordially, 

Caleb  Davis  Bradlee. 
Christ's  Church,  Longwood,  Brookline,  Mass. 

During  Mr.  Bradlee's  supply  of  the  East  Boston 
pulpit  he  corresponded  regularly  with  the  Rev.  W.  H. 
Cudworth,  the  pastor  of  the  church,  who,  as  chaplain 
of  the  First  Massachusetts  Regiment,  was  following  the 
fortunes  of  the  Civil  War. 

These  letters  from  Mr.  Cudworth  are  full  of  expres- 
sions of  satisfaction  with  the  service  which  was  being 
rendered  by  Mr.  Bradlee  at  the  church. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  letters  are  like  many 
which  might  be  quoted  :  — 


TRANSIENT    SUPPLIES    AND    EAST    BOSTON.  41 

For  one,  I  have  been  well  satisfied  with  your  management 
of  affairs.  I  am  sure,  likewise,  that  the  parish  has  been,  and 
doubt  not  that  God  will  at  last  assure  you  you  have  done  all  you 
could,  and  sometimes  even  overdone. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  you  are  disposed  to  continue  in  charge  of 
my  pulpit,  and  for  the  good  of  the  parish,  as  well  as  for  my  own 
interests,  don't  believe  a  better  man  could  be  found. 

I  think  you  deserve  much  commendation  for  the  able  and 
faithful  manner  in  which  you  have  discharged  your  duties,  as  you 
certainly  have  won  a  large  share  of  my  love  for  the  brotherly  and 
Christian  spirit  you  have  shown. 


IV. 

CHURCH  OF  THE  REDEEMER. 

April  6,  1864  —  April  22,   1872. 


IV. 
CHURCH  OF  THE  REDEEMER. 

April  6,  1864  —  April  22,  1872. 

IN  1864  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee  became  the  pastor 
of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Boston,  and  re- 
mained with  it  until  1872.  Early  in  1864  a  movement 
was  made  to  establish  a  new  Unitarian  church  at  the 
South  End  in  Boston. 

Mr.  Bradlee  was  asked  to  be  the  pastor.  The  new 
church  was  organized  as  u  The  Church  of  the  Re- 
deemer," and  it  secured  a  hall  in  Concord  Street  for  its 
services. 

The  call  was  dated  March  10,  1864.  Mr.  Bradlee 
accepted.  His  letter  of  acceptance  contained  the  fol- 
lowing words  :  — 

"The  Church  of  the  Redeemer!  Surely,  such  a 
church,  founded  on  the  Master,  reverently  holding  his 
blessed  name,  and  looking  to  him  constantly  for  aid, 
must  grow  in  grace,  and  must  be  filled  with  glory. 

"  I  accept,  then,  your  call,  looking  to  the  Author  and 
Finisher  of  our  faith  for  that  benediction  upon  our 
mutual  efforts  that  shall  make  us  a  church  not  only 
large  in  numbers,  but  united  in  spirit,  earnest  in 
prayer,  and  active  in  all  good  works." 

About  twenty  families  were  pledged  to  the  support 
of  the  new  church. 


46  IN    MEMORIAM  ■    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

April  6,  1864,  was  the  day  set  apart  for  the  installa- 
tion. The  service  was  at  7.30  p.m.  at  the  Church  of 
the  Unity,  on  West  Newton  Street,  and  was  according 
to  the  following 

ORDER. 

(1)  Invocation.     Rev.  F.  W.  Holland,  pastor  of  Allen  Street 

Church,  North  Cambridge. 

(2)  Scriptures.     Rev.    W.  P.  Tilden,  pastor  of   New  South 

Church,  Boston. 

(3)  Sermon.     Rev.    George  Putnam,   D.D.,  pastor  of  First 

Church,  Roxbury. 

(4)  Prayer    of     Installation.     Rev.    James    Walker,    D.D., 

LL.D.,  of  Cambridge. 

(5)  Charge.     Rev.  Samuel  Barrett,  D.D.,  of  Roxbury. 

(6)  Right    Hand   of     Fellowship.     Rev.    George    H.    Hep- 

worth,  pastor  of  Church  of  the  Unity,  Boston. 

(7)  Address   to    the    People.     Rev.    A.    P.    Putnam,    pastor 

Mount  Pleasant  Congregational  Church,  Roxbury. 

(8)  Benediction  by  the  Pastor. 

On  Sunday,  April  10,  he  preached  from  the  text, 
"I  the  Lord  am  thy  Saviour  and  thy  Redeemer." 
This  pastorate  he  named  the  "fourth  period"  of  his 
ministry ;  and  in  it  he  was  successful,  as  few  men  are, 
in  drawing  about  him  a  band  of  devoted  friends,  who, 
amid  all  the  changes  of  the  years  to  come,  were  faithful 
and  loyal  to  him. 

In  1865,  on  tne  2d  of  October,  he  began  to  reside  at 
44  Chester  Park  (number  later  changed  to  17) ;  and  at 
once  he  was  called  upon  for  services  of  special  char- 
acter for  those  who  did  not  go  to  his  church  or,  in 
many  cases,  to  any  church.     He  continued  to  reside  at 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  47 

the  South  End  about  thirty  years  (moving  to  57  West 
Brookline  Street  Aug.  28,  1882),  during  which  time 
he  became  known  in  many  hundreds  of  homes  as  one 
who  was  always  at  the  service  of  the  public.  In  the 
summer,  when  most  clergymen  were  away  on  long 
vacations,  he  prided  himself  upon  remaining  at  home 
to  attend  to  special  calls  for  ministerial  services. 
His  own  brief  vacations  were  usually  taken  before  or 
after  those  of  his  brother  ministers.  No  one  was 
called  more  frequently  to  visit  the  sick  or  bury  the 
dead,  and  no  man  ever  had  a  greater  gift  for  such  min- 
istry. He  was  welcomed  alike  in  the  homes  of  rich 
and  poor,  and  never  asked  to  be  excused  from  the  most 
trying  service  when  his  health  would  permit  him  to 
perform  it. 

At  the  church  service  the  notice  was  given  for  all  to 
remain  and  take  each  other  by  the  hand.  Frequent 
social  gatherings  were  held  at  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  parish  ;  and  Mr.  Bradlee  was  always  present, 
making  all  acquainted  with  each  other. 

The  Sunday-school  was  of  great  interest  to  him. 
He  did  all  he  could  for  its  welfare,  and  received  the 
respect  and  love  of  all  its  members.  For  a  large  part 
of  the  time  he  was  the  superintendent  of  the  school. 
In  the  course  of  the  eight  years  there  were  over  two 
hundred  children  connected  with  the  school.  A  con- 
ference meeting  was  held  on  a  week-day  afternoon, 
which  was  much  enjoyed  by  those  who  attended  it. 

After  eight  pleasant  years  of  labor  by  pastor  and 
people,  circumstances  arose  that  made  it  seem  best  to 
disband  the  church ;  and  it  was  reluctantly  done. 


48  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  following  letter  was  sent  by  Mr.  Bradlee  to 
the  committee  and  society  of  the  Church  of  the  Re- 
deemer :  — 

Boston,  Jan.  i,  1872. 

Dear  Christian  Friends, —  It  is  with  great  sadness  I 
feel  obliged  to  say  that  the  time  has  come  when  I  must 
proffer  my  resignation  that  is  to  take  effect  on  the  first 
of  July  next.  Probably  no  parish  in  the  city  is  more 
united  and  happy  than  ours ;  and  we  shall  have  lived 
together,  in  the  bonds  of  a  holy  fellowship  up  to 
the  time  of  our  parting,  for  over  eight  profitable  and 
blessed  years. 

When  our  church  was  founded,  there  seemed  to  be  a 
call  for  its  establishment ;  but  since  that  time  two 
other  churches  of  the  same  faith  have  been  built  in  our 
neighborhood,  affording  all  the  privileges  of  Sunday  for 
such  as  desire  to  worship  God,  for  at  least  the  next 
five  or  ten  years,  so  that  it  now  seems  the  better  part 
of  prudence  and  charity  that  our  church  shall  close  its 
doors  for  the  more  thorough  building  up  of  the  others. 
The  sacrifice  appears  to  fall  to  our  lot ;  and  at  what 
more  beautiful  time  can  we  part  one  from  the  other, 
and  all  from  the  "  Church  of  the  Redeemer,"  than  now, 
when  our  hearts  are  so  closely  knit  together,  and  when 
all  our  memories  of  the  sacred  hours  we  have  enjoyed 
will  be  so  sweet  and  joyous  ?  I  commend  you  all  to 
the  special  care  of  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and 
remain  your  ever  endeared  friend, 

C.  D.  Bradlee. 

A  meeting  was  held,  at  which  many  suggestions  were 
made  looking  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  resignation ;  and 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  49 

the  following  notice  appeared  in  the   Traveller  of  Jan. 
11,  1872  :  — 

Resignation  Declined. —  At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Concord  Street,  held 
Wednesday  evening,  the  resignation  of  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  C.  D. 
Bradlee,  being  received,  it  was  resolved  unanimously  "that,  as 
his  connection  with  the  church  is  indispensable  to  its  growth  and 
welfare,  the  resignation  be  not  accepted."  It  was  also  resolved 
that,  in  behalf  of  the  society,  the  committee  thank  him  sincerely 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties  the  past  eight  years, 
and  they  earnestly  request  his  continuance  as  pastor. 

Mr.  Bradlee  felt  that  he  must  be  released,  and  sent 
another  letter  of  resignation,  asking  that  it  take  effect 
the  third  Sunday  in  April,  1872. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  at  the  eighth  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  the  following  reso- 
lution was  passed  :  — 

Resolved,  That  we  sorrowfully  accept  our  pastor's  second  resig- 
nation, that  is  to  take  place  after  the  third  Sunday  in  April ;  and 
we  earnestly  hope,  by  another  fall,  means  will  be  taken  for 
another  formation  of  the  society,  with  the  same  pastor,  in  a  dif- 
ferent part  of  the  city. 

About  this  time  the  great  movement  from  the  South 
End  to  the  Back  Bay  began,  and  before  the  death  of 
Dr.  Bradlee  both  the  churches  to  which  he  refers  in  his 
letter  of  resignation  disbanded  for  want  of  local  sup- 
port. From  one  of  them,  the  Church  of  the  Unity,  he 
received  many  people  in  his  Longwood  Church  in  1896 
and  1897. 

The  following  letter  was  signed  by  the  members  of 
the  parish,  and  forwarded  to  Mr.  Bradlee,  who  preserved 
it  among  his  most  precious  papers  :  — 


50  in  memoriam:  c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

Boston,  April  21  ,.1872. 
Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee  : 

Dear  Pastor  and  Friend, — The  time  having  come,  in  God's 
wise  providence,  when  your  connection  with  us  as  pastor  of  the 
"  Church  of  the  Redeemer  "  is  to  be  dissolved,  and  the  church 
itself  to  be  scattered,  we  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  our  deep 
regret  that  this  change  seems  necessary,  and  that  we  are  to 
be  deprived  of  the  pastoral  care  of  one  who  has  been  such  a 
faithful  friend  and  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  us.  You  have 
endeared  yourself  to  many ;  you  have  quickened  and  strengthened 
the  spiritual  life  of  many ;  your  prayers  and  your  counsels  have 
been  our  comfort  and  our  help ;  and  you  will  ever  have  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  many  grateful  hearts.  Our  prayers  will  go 
with  you  in  whatever  portion  of  the  Lord's  vineyard  he  may  call 
you  to  labor  in  future,  and  we  feel  assured  you  will  never  lose 
your  interest  in  old  friends  when  new  ones  shall  gather  round 
you. 

As  a  slight  token  of  the  regard  we  cherish  for  yourself  and 
Mrs.  Bradlee,  we  ask  you  to  accept  this  mantel  clock ;  and,  while  it 
shall  mark  for  you  the  hours  of  each  passing  day,  may  your  lives 
be  crowned  with  Heaven's  choicest  blessings  and  your  hearts  be 
filled  with  that  peace  of  God  which  is  not  limited  by  time,  but 
which  shall  grow  deeper  and  purer  and  more  enduring  through 
the  ages  of  eternity  !  Very  sincerely, 

Your  Friends. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the  last  ser- 
mon preached  at  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  April 
21,  1872,  from  the  text 

"  Finally,  brethren,  farewell."  —  2  Cor.  xiii.  11. 

"  The  time  seems  to  have  arrived  when  we  each 
ought  to  say  to  the  other,  and  all  of  us  to  our  beloved 
church,  that  sad,  mysterious,  yet  holy  word,  Farewell. 
I  am  glad  that  we  can  say  it  with  no  harsh  feelings, 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  5 1 

with  no  bitter  remembrances,  and  with  no  blur  nor  stain 
upon  the  eight  years'  pilgrimage  we  have  taken,  that 
should  make  us  blush  or  tremble.  We  can  say  it  hold- 
ing each  other  by  the  hand,  with  our  hearts  in  blessed 
harmony,  with  no  financial  obligation  to  press  us  down, 
and  with  our  record  clear,  bright,  beautiful,  full  of  in- 
spiration, and  full  of  joy.  No  church,  I  think,  in  Bos- 
ton, or  in  Massachusetts,  or  anywhere,  has  been  more 
united,  more  peaceful,  more  happy,  and  more  like  one 
family  than  ours. 

"  We  came  together  as  strangers  ;  but  we  have  lived 
together  as  brothers  and  sisters  in  the  Lord,  and  never 
will  there  be  any  relations  between  us  but  those  of  the 
most  cordial  love  and  the  most  holy  fellowship. 

"I  know  that  I  leave  this  place  with  your  blessing, 
and  I  am  sure  that  you  each  and  all  are  joined  to  me  by 
ties  that  can  never  really  be  broken.  Why,  then,  do 
we  part  ?     Why  must  we  arise,  and  go  hence  ? 

"  This  is  best  answered  by  a  slight  sketch  of  the 
growth  of  the  church,  and  by  a  brief  survey  of  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place  in  this  vicinity  since  we 
were  organized  as  a  society.  In  1864,  when  we  com- 
menced our  services,  the  only  two  independent  churches 
of  our  faith  south  of  Dover  Street  were  the  South 
Congregational  Church  and  the  Church  of  the  Unity, 
both  of  which  were  quite  well  filled ;  yet  by  a  special 
census  at  that  time  there  were  over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  families  south  of  Dover  Street  that  attended  no 
place  of  religious  worship. 

"These  families,  too,  I  believe,  were  to  a  great  ex- 
tent able  to  support  preaching,  and  needed  only  a  little 


52  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

encouragement  by  which  they  would  soon  be  led  to 
become  regular  worshippers  in  the  temple  of  our  Lord. 
Many  did  not  ask  for  a  mission  church,  but  a  home 
church,  where  each  and  all  could  contribute  toward  the 
support  of  the  gospel,  and  where  each  and  all  could 
stand  together  in  a  close  and  beautiful  union.  We 
endeavored  in  our  humble  way  to  meet  and  greet  this 
want,  and,  as  our  records  will  prove,  with  a  success  that 
led  us  to  expect  a  long  life  and  a  wide  field  of  useful- 
ness. 

"  But  induced  by  the  great  field  all  whitening  for  the 
harvest  in  this  part  of  our  city,  and  perhaps,  too,  a  little 
encouraged  by  our  own  growth  and  life,  two  other 
churches  located  immediately  in  our  vicinity,  —  the 
1  Church  of  the  Disciples '  and  the  '  New  South  Free 
Church/  with  pastors  whose  good  names  are  in  all  the 
churches,  and  for  whom  I  entertain  the  deepest  respect 
and  the  most  reverent  love.  Beside  these  two  neigh- 
boring churches  all  beautifully  built,  our  humble  little 
ark,  all  unpretending,  was  brought  into  terrible  con- 
trast ;  and  the  new-comers  drifted  where  the  eye  was 
better  pleased  and  where  the  shelter  was  more  inviting. 

"  From  our  own  flock  but  three  families  strayed  away 
for  these  more  attractive  homes  ;  but  from  that  time 
our  hopes  for  added  strength  were  really  blasted,  unless 
we,  too,  could  build  a  splendid  house  unto  the  Lord  or 
relocate  where  other  churches  were  at  a  more  conven- 
ient distance.  Death  came,  families  moved  into  the 
country,  some  went  away  to  the  extreme  end  of  the 
city,  until  the  regular  parish  became  greatly  impaired, 
although  the  '  strangers  within  our  gates '  have  helped 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  53 

to  encourage  our  hearts  even  unto  this  day  ;  whilst,  too, 
those  who  did  remain — and  on  this  list  you  will  find 
some  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  South  End  — 
were  ready  to  stay  even  here,  in  this  undesirable  spot,  for 
an  indefinite  future.  But  it  was  best,  hemmed  in  as  we 
were  by  other  churches,  in  our  unattractive  place  and 
our  unfavorable  locality, — it  was  very  much  for  the 
best  that  we  should  stop. 

"  Some  of  you  tell  me,  my  faithful  friends,  that  you 
will  form  again  before  another  winter  where  none  can 
molest  us  or  make  us  afraid,  or  that,  with  your  already 
earnest  and  noble  members,  you  will  unite  with  some 
other  church,  and  take  a  stand  that  nothing  can  shake. 
I  am  not  sure  that  this  would  be  well.  Let  us  wait 
God's  wise  and  beautiful  direction.  Let  us  pause  till 
we  hear  the  voice  that  shall  say  to  us,  ■  Go  forward ! ' 
Let  us  rejoice  that  we  have  done  so  much,  that  we  even 
yet  remain  so  strong,  and  that  we  have  accomplished 
all  these  things  through  every  discouragement  and  in 
the  face  of  everything  that  seemed  to  strive  to  put  us 
back.  Let  us  be  glad  that  for  eight  years  we  have  done 
our  work,  made  our  influence  felt,  and  falsified  the  pre- 
dictions of  a  few  croaking  spirits,  who,  not  loving  us 
overmuch,  looked  for  our  speedy  dissolution  within  six 
months  or  a  year  from  our  start.  Bring  to-day  into 
our  church  only  those  who  have  left  us  because  they 
moved  *so  far  away  that  they  could  not  come  any  more, 
and  a  multitude  of  our  well-known  business  men  would 
appear  in  our  sight. 

"I  do  not  think  it  right  that  any  minister  should 
gauge  his  success  by  the  numbers  that  gather  round 


54  IN    MEMORIAM  '.    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

his  ministrations,  nor  by  the  services  he  is  asked  to 
perform,  nor  by  anything  whatsoever  of  outside  appro- 
bation. Our  record  is  with  God  and  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people.  Only  as  we  actually  build  up  the  king- 
dom of  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  can  we 
count  our  real  success ;  and  that  test  will  only  come 
when  we  arrive  within  the  heavenly  gates.  Yet,  if  we 
should  boast  after  the  manner  of  men,  our  external 
proofs  of  influence  are  not  small.  During  the  eight 
years  of  my  ministry  there  probably  has  been  con- 
nected at  different  times  with  our  church,  either  as 
permanent  hearers  or  as  occasional  listeners,  or  as 
those  who  looked  for  no  other  ministrations  than  ours, 
representatives  of  not  far  from  two  hundred  families. 

"  I  go  I  know  not  where,  but  God  knows,  and  that  is 
sufficient ;  and  you  will  pray  for  me,  I  am  sure,  that  I 
may  never  give  up  the  office  of  a  steward  of  the  Lord, 
that  I  may  always  preach  the  gospel  of  Jesus,  that  I 
may  find  a  flock  who  shall  deal  with  me  as  gently  as 
you  have  alway  dealt,  and  that  I  may  at  last  obtain 
some  humble  place  of  rest  in  the  City  of  our  God. 
But  now  I  must  say  farewell, —  a  word  so  hard  to  utter, 
yet  something  that  must  be  spoken  by  each  and  by  all 
throughout  some  part  of  a  personal  experience,  —  nay, 
a  word  that  has  been  spoken  for  thousands  of  years, 
and  must  be  repeated  many  thousands  of  years  more. 
To  your  familiar  faces,  to  your  constant,  cordial  speech, 
to  your  kind  hearts,  and  to  your  myriad  courtesies,  fare- 
well. To  all  the  intimacies  of  the  household  that  have 
been  so  very  precious,  where  heart  has  responded  to 
heart,  where  hand  has  clasped  hand,  where  in  your  joy- 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  55 

ous  seasons  I  have  always  been  welcome,  and  where  in 
grievous  hours  I  have  tried  to  be  the  comforter;  to 
your  generous  tables  and  your  liberal  bounties  and 
everything  about  you  that  has  been  so  genial,  inspir- 
ing, and  beautiful,  farewell.  To  the  band  of  children 
that  each  Sabbath  afternoon  have  met  in  this  church 
with  their  simple  and  earnest  faith,  to  their  thrilling 
hymns,  their  earnest  prayers,  their  pleasant  voices, 
their  cheerful  manner,  and  their  gentlemanly  and  lady- 
like and  Christian  behavior,  farewell.  To  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  school,  his  assistants,  and  all  the  teachers, 
and  the  Bible  classes,  who  have  been  so  faithful  and 
so  honest,  and  such  a  holy  comfort,  farewell.  To  the 
organ  and  to  the  one  who  has  made  it  preach  in  tones 
so  suggestive  and  touching ;  to  the  choir  and  to  all  in 
any  office  in  those  seats  of  praise  ;  to  him  so  careful 
each  Sunday  that  all  the  strangers  should  be  welcome, 
and  so  constantly  looking  after  my  comfort  and  peace ; 
to  everybody  and  everything,  —  let  there  be  no  omis- 
sion,—  farewell.  But  why  should  I  utter  this  sad  word  ? 
If  my  life  be  spared,  I  hope  not  to  be  very  far  away. 
Who  knows  but  that  some  of  you  yet  may  be  where  I 
am,  and  again  call  me,  in  some  other  place,  pastor  and 
friend  ?  Neither  shall  I  go  so  far  away  but  that  I  shall 
hear  from  you  continually;  and  of  course  I  shall  at 
once  establish  a  spiritual  telegraph  between  your  hearts 
and  my  heart,  and  I  know  that  the  messages  that  will 
pass  to  and  fro  continually  will  ever  be  loving,  gentle, 
true,  and  holy,  whilst  the  alphabet  in  which  they  shall 
be  written  shall  be  known  only  to  you  and  to  me. 

"  Yet  why  should  I  not  say  iare-we/l  ?     Certainly,  I 


56  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

wish  that  no  one  should  fare  ill :  least  of  all  would 
I  wish  harm  to  you  my  patient  hearers,  my  generous 
friends,  my  noble  parishioners,  and  my  eight  years' 
weekly  companions.  May  good  fortune  always  be  your 
lot !  Propitious  may  the  heavens  ever  prove  in  your 
behalf,  and  fruitful  the  earth  !  May  your  homes  be  full 
of  joy,  your  business  full  of  success,  your  bodies  full  of 
health,  and  your  minds  full  of  good  thought ;  but  above 
all,  more  than  all,  comprehending  all,  may  your  hearts 
be  full  of  grace.  Or,  if,  to  fare  well,  you  must  pass 
through  seeming  ills,  greet  rough  tides,  and  be  pano- 
plied by  many  disasters,  may  you  be  so  brave,  so 
patient,  so  pure,  and  so  thoroughly  resigned  and  trust- 
ful that  all  your  clouds  shall  have  a  silver  lining.  Then 
will  all  your  cares  and  pains  be  really  but  blessings  in 
disguise. 

"  At  last,  dear  parishioners,  in  heaven  may  you  fare 
well,  when  the  countenance  shall  change,  and  the  body 
become  marble,  and  time  be  closed  :  then  may  it  be  all 
bright  and  beautiful.  May  God  give  you  at  last  a  ready 
welcome,  a  glorious  pardon,  and  his  consoling  and  up- 
lifting, '  Well  done  ! '  May  the  Master  be  able  to  say, 
These  are  my  disciples,  May  your  mansion  be  all 
ready,  your  robe  prepared,  your  crown  glittering,  your 
harp  tuned,  your  celestial  work  at  hand,  and  right  be- 
fore you  a  joyous  welcome  from  the  saints  who  now 
await  your  coming  !  " 

For  some  time  after  the  closing  of  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer  Mr.  Bradlee  met  some  of  the  old  friends  of 
that  church  at  his  house  regularly  for  Bible-class  work. 
On  New  Year's  eve,  Dec.  31,  1872,  a  gift  was  presented 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  57 

him  by  this  class,  accompanied  by  a  letter,  from  which 
we  quote  the  following  :  — 

We  are  so  glad  that  we  are  to  spend  a  while  in  your  study  on 
this  last  night  of  the  year,  and  we  know  our  hearts  will  be  made 
stronger.     We  thank  you  for  all  you  have  done  for  us. 

At  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer  Mr.  Bradlee  was  the  owner  of  the  church 
edifice  and  all  that  it  contained.  He  gave  the  bap- 
tismal font  to  the  church  in  Fairhaven,  Mass.,,  of  which 
his  friend,  the  Rev.  Alfred  Manchester,  was  pastor  ;  the 
communion  table  to  the  Unitarian  church  in  Woburn, 
Mass. ;  and  the  organ  to  the  colored  church  to  which 
the  building  was  loaned  for  a  term  of  years. 

Among  other  labors  of  this  period  he  became  one  of 
the  faculty  of  the  Boston  School  for  the  Ministry  in 
1868,  when  the  department  of  Pastoral  Care  and  Chris- 
tian Biography  was  assigned  to  him  ;  and  he  remained 
one  of  its  teachers  until  its  union  with  the  Divinity 
School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.  At  this  time  the  other 
professors  in  the  school  were  George  H.  Hepworth,  Dr. 
Ezra  S.  Gannett,  Dr.  Edward  E.  Hale,  Dr.  Samuel 
Osgood,  Henry  W.  Foote,  John  Williams,  Charles  T. 
Canfield,  and  Edward  J.  Young. 

This  work  was  especially  attractive  to  Mr.  Bradlee. 
He  was  very  fond  of  young  men,  and  devoted  himself 
with  great  earnestness  to  their  welfare.  His  lectures 
in  Christian  Biography  were  carefully  prepared,  and  he 
gave  great  attention  to  the  details  of  parish  work. 

Of  the  persons  greatly  helped  by  him  in  this  school, 
three   became  united   to   him  in  the  closest  bonds  of 


58  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

fellowship,  and  enjoyed  his  sympathy  and  loyal  friend- 
ship to  the  day  of  his  death.  These  were  the  Rev. 
D.  M.  Wilson,  the  Rev.  George  W.  Green,  and  the  Rev. 
Alfred  Manchester.  Mr.  Green  was  at  one  time  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Christian  Unity 
Society,  Boston.  With  these  three  men  he  sat  for  a 
photograph  in  1869,  and  a  copy  of  this  group  picture 
hung  on  the  wall  of  his  study  ever  after. 

Aug.  1,  1867,  Mr.  Samuel  Bradlee,  father  of  the  Rev. 
Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight 
years,  eight  months,  and  twenty-five  days.  It  was  on 
the  day  after  his  golden  wedding.  He  passed  away 
suddenly. 

On  the  Sunday  following  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Bradlee 
the  Rev.  Rufus  Ellis  preached  at  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  of  which  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  was 
pastor.  The  services  were  of  a  deeply  impressive 
character.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Frothingham,  under  whose 
preaching  Mr.  Bradlee  sat  for  many  years  at  the  First 
Church  on  Chauncy  Street,  though  so  weak  that  he  had 
to  be  supported  up  the  aisle,  came  to  pay  this  last  public 
mark  of  respect  to  the  worth  of  his  departed  friend. 

In  the  course  of  his  sermon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellis  said  :  — 

We  stand  up  before  the  face  of  the  old  man.  We  look  upon  that 
face  when  death  has  set  upon  it  his  own  peculiar  impress  of 
quietness  and  beauty  and  fear  and  love  of  God.  We  accept  the 
testimony  of  an  accomplished  life.  We  see  that  the  fathers  have 
passed  through  many  vicissitudes,  and  are  safe.  Their  deliverances 
rebuke  our  fears.  Their  placid  faces  reprove  our  troubled  looks ; 
and,  as  I  would  not  despise  the  prophesyings  which  seek  to  tell  us 
what  God  will  do,  so  I  would  heed  the  witnesses  that  testify  in 
their  persons  or  by  their  lips  what  he  has  done. 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER.  59 

My  friends,  I  stand  in  your  pastor's  place  to-day  because  the 
record  of  such  a  life  has  just  been  closed,  and  because  the  good 
man's  minister  can  tell  better  than  the  good  man's  son  what  the 
son,  even  better  than  the  minister,  knows  to  be  true  of  him  who  is 
gone  at  once  from  my  church  and  from  his,  only,  as  we  believe,  to 
enter  into  fuller  communion  with  the  church  of  the  first  born, 
whose  names  are  written  in  heaven.  How  truly  might  our  father 
have  said,  "  The  God  who  fed  me  all  my  days  long  "  !  for  he  was  a 
good  man,  and  "  the  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the 
Lord."  .  .  .  He  had  completed  fourscore  years,  and  almost  another 
half-score  of  earthly  life.  In  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  household 
festival  his  lips  were  framed  to  utter  words  of  thankfulness  and 
trust ;  and  before  the  close  of  another  day  the  decree  went  forth, 
and  was  intrusted  to  one  of  the  swiftest  and  most  merciful  of  the 
angels,  and  the  aged  man  fell  on  sleep. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bradlee  now  became  possessed  of  ample 
means,  and  his  friends  thought  he  might  live  in  retire- 
ment, and  devote  himself  to  the  pursuit  of  literary 
interests,  which  were  dear  to  him.  This  he  never  did, 
but  devoted  himself,  and  all  he  had,  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  glad  that  henceforth  he  could  serve  without 
any  charge  upon  those  to  whom  he  ministered.  A 
modest  living  was  all  he  asked  for  himself.  All  the 
rest  of  his  income  was  devoted  to  public  and  private 
charity. 


V. 

TRANSIENT   SUPPLIES. 

SUPPLY   AND    PASTORATE,  CHRISTIAN 
UNITY   SOCIETY. 

April  22,  1872— July  i,  1875. 


TRANSIENT   SUPPLIES.     SUPPLY  AND  PAS- 
TORATE  CHRISTIAN    UNITY   SOCIETY. 

April  22,  1872  —  July  i,  1875. 

THE  dates  above  given  cover  what  he  called  the 
fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  periods  of  his  ministry. 
The  fifth  period  was  April  22,  1872  —  September  1, 
1872,  when  he  supplied  pulpits  transiently.  The  sixth 
period  was  September  1,  1872  —  April  2,  1873,  when  he 
had  temporary  supply  of  the  Christian  Unity  Society, 
Boston.  The  seventh  period  was  April  2,  1873  — July 
1,  1875,  when  he  was  pastor  of  the  Christian  Unity 
Society,  Boston. 

It  was  believed  by  many  friends  of  Mr.  Bradlee  that 
his  presence,  as  the  pastor  of  the  Christian  Unity  So- 
ciety, would  make  this  centre  of  Christian  influence 
very  powerful  in  the  community  where  it  was  located. 
This  was  a  church  open  every  Sunday  in  the  year  for 
religious  worship,  and  for  the  most  of  the  year  an 
evening  service  was  held  on  Sunday  in  addition  to  the 
regular.  Sunday-school  service  at  3  p.m. 

There  were  literary,  social,  or  religious  meetings 
every  evening. 

It  was  an  early  experiment  in  what  is  now  called  an 
"  Institutional  Church." 


64  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Mr.  Bradlee  did  not  feel  physically  equal  to  the 
work  as  a  whole ;  but  those  interested  were  willing  to 
provide  for  the  maintenance  of  all  but  the  regular 
Sunday  work  and  special  religious  services,  if  he  would 
take  charge  of  these. 

A  limited  call  was  first  extended,  as  follows :  — 

We  beg  to  inform  you  that,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Provisional 
Committee  of  this  society,  held  here  this  evening,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  you  be  invited  to  accept  the  pastoral 
charge  of  this  church,  to  the  extent  of  supplying  the  pulpit  per- 
sonally each  Sabbath  morning,  and  performing  such  other  duties 
as  you  may  desire  or  occasion  require,  from  the  first  of  September 
next  to  the  first  of  April,  1873,  •  •  •  with  the  earnest  prayer  that 
our  connection  may  be  mutually  beneficial,  and  result  to  the  wel- 
fare of  never  dying  souls  and  the  promotion  of  God's  work  in 
ourselves  and  our  midst. 

June  7,  1872. 

This  call  he  accepted.  A  call  from  the  same  society 
was  received  and  declined  by  him  Dec.  20,  1859. 

His  first  sermon  as  temporary  pastor  of  this  society 
was  preached  Sept.  1,  1872,  from  the  text,  "If  any 
man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink"  (St.  John 
vii.  37).  In  closing,  he  said:  "I  would  not  come  to 
you  even  for  a  few  weeks  or  months  without  defining 
my  position,  showing  my  Christian  flag,  disclosing  my 
Leader,  and  making  it  clearly  understood  where  I  stand 
in  the  ranks  of  the  church.  I  am  not  ashamed  of  Jesus 
Christ.  He  is  my  all  and  all, —  my  Leader,  my  Judge, 
Redeemer,  and  Immanuel.  Blessed  be  his  holy  name ! 
Would  that  I  were  more  worthy  of  his  beautiful  com- 
panionship, and  in  more  strict  affiliation  with  his  blessed 


SUPPLIES    AND    CHRISTIAN    UNIT'/.  65 

precepts  !  So  for  you  all  I  pray  that  you  may  grow  more 
like  him,  our  Lord.  Let  us  each  and  all  hold  his  out- 
stretched hand.  Let  us  each  and  all  lean  upon  his 
gracious  heart.  Let  us  each  and  all  obey  every  utter- 
ance of  his  splendid  voice ;  and,  at  last,  may  all  in  this 
church  be  led  by  him  to  God,  and  introduced  under 
the  grand  proclamation  that  nestles  so  sweetly  in  the 
prayer  of  the  Son  of  God :  '  Father,  I  will  that  they 
whom  thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me  where  I  am, 
that  they  may  behold  my  glory  which  thou  hast  given 
me ;  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world/  " 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1873,  the  Christian  Unity  So- 
ciety invited  him  to  become  permanent  pastor  from 
April  1,  1873,  giving  him  the  privilege  of  employing 
an  assistant.  In  this  call  are  included  words  that  tell 
of  great  good  already  accomplished  by  Mr.  Bradlee  in 
this  new  field  of  labor  :  — 

As  a  man,  we  have  each  and  all  loved  you,  and,  as  a  minister 
of  God's  word,  we  believe  you  have  faithfully  endeavored  to  lead 
us  nearer  to  Him  who  is  Truth  itself.  We  have  had  abundant 
evidence  that  you  have  the  welfare  of  souls  at  heart,  and  your  in- 
terest in  the  work  of  the  Christian  Unity  has  been  hearty, 
unselfish,  and  unswerving. 

Our  associations  with  you  personally,  your  family,  and  those 
of  your  late  flock  who  have  joined  us,  have  been  cordial,  free,  and 
increasingly  happy. 

Mr.  Bradlee  accepted  this  call.  In  his  letter  he  says, 
"  We  have  before  us  a  grand  and  mighty  work,  and  let 
us  enter  upon  it  by  invoking  the  blessing  of  Heaven, 
and  the  constant  presence  of  the  Redeemer." 


'  0*  T 


66  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

An  installation  service  was  held  April  2,  1873,  at 
7.30  P.M. 

ORDER. 

(1)  Invocation.     Rev.   Alfred   Manchester,  of   Fairhaven, 

Mass. 

(2)  Scriptures.     Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson,  of  Melrose,  Mass. 

(3)  Sermon.     Rev.  S.  K.  Lothrop,  D.D.,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

(4)  Prayer  of  Installation.     Rev.   H.   W.   Foote,    of  Boston, 

Mass. 

(5)  Charge.     Rev.  Rufus  Ellis,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

(6)  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship.     Rev.  E.  E.  Hale,  of  Boston, 

Mass. 

(7)  Address  to  the  People.     Rev.  W.  P.  Tilden,  of  Boston, 

Mass. 

(8)  Prayer.     Rev.  George  W.  Green,  of  Berlin,  Mass. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1873,  the  Rev.  George  W. 
Green  was  installed  as  junior  pastor  of  the  Christian 
Unity  Society.  He  was  one  of  Mr.  Bradlee's  students 
at  the  Boston  School  for  the  Ministry,  graduated  from 
the  Cambridge  Divinity  School  June,  1872,  and  had 
been  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  church  in  Berlin,  Mass. 

Mr.  Bradlee  composed  the  following  hymn  for  the 
installation  :  — 

Afresh  thy  charge  of  souls  take  up, 

Again  thy  work  renew ; 
The  bread,  oh,  break ;  pour  out  the  cup  ; 

Thy  chosen  call  pursue. 

Once  more  to  other  souls  proclaim 

The  truths  so  dear  to  all ; 
The  beaten  oil  in  Jesus'  name 

On  waiting  hearts  let  fall. 


SUPPLIES    AND    CHRISTIAN    UNITY.  67 

From  those  once  yours  do  prayers  arise 

For  blessings  on  your  way, 
That  all  your  thoughts  be  true  and  wise 

Each  hour  and  day  by  day. 

Go  forth,  then,  strengthened  by  the  past 

And  cheered  in  days  to  come  ! 
God  grant  this  tie  may  ever  last 

Till  life  on  earth  is  done. 


On  the  22d  of  February,  1874,  the  Franklin  Literary- 
Association  became  united  to  the  Christian  Unity 
Society.  This  Association  was  composed  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  who  were  earnest  in  spirit,  and  who  received 
a  warm  welcome  from  Mr.  Bradlee  to  this  new  relation. 

A  part  of  the  money  for  the  support  of  the  Christian 
Unity  Society  was  derived  from  fairs,  which,  like  all 
such  enterprises  with  which  Mr.  Bradlee  had  to  do, 
were  remarkably  successful. 

One  special  feature  of  Mr.  Bradlee's  work  at  the 
Christian  Unity  was  his  large  and  deeply  interested 
Bible  class,  which  was  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to 
him. 

Mr.  Bradlee  sent  his  resignation  to  the  Christian 
Unity  Society  April  1,  1875,  to  take  effect  July  r. 
The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  on  the  1st  of  July 
Mr.  Bradlee  and  Mr.  Green  ceased  to  be  pastors  of  the 
society.* 

Mr.  Green  continued  to  reside  with  Mr.  Bradlee  for 
some  time. 

During  this  pastorate  Mr.  Bradlee  printed  a  number 
of  sermons  in  pamphlet  form,  from  one  of  which,  printed 


68  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

after  the  death  of  Charles  Sumner,  March,  1874,  the 
following  is  taken  :  — 

"  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  philanthropists  the 
world  has  ever  seen, —  loved  black  as  well  as  white, — 
and  the  poor  negroes  in  the  obscure  huts  of  Southern 
lands  will  mourn  for  him  as  deeply  as  the  most  dis- 
tinguished scholars  here  and  everywhere.  Of  his 
strictly  religious  life  I  know  but  little ;  but  I  cannot 
help  thinking  that  one  so  true  to  morals  must  have 
had  within  his  soul  a  constant  uprising  toward  holiness 
and  God. 

"  Ah  !  liberty  sighs  for  him  :  honor  moans  for  one 
who  was  so  true  a  disciple.  Struggling  ones  through- 
out the  world  lift  up  their  sighs  to  God  in  their  great 
and  mighty  loss  ;  and  tyrants  alone  begin  to  smile  as 
this  champion  of  human  rights  is  withdrawn,  and  with 
desperate  sinners  alone  is  there  a  jubilee  of  relief,  now 
that  the  coast  seems  more  clear  and  easy  for  the  spread 
of  evil  and  the  reign  of  Satan.  Our  country  has 
received  a  blow  from  which  it  will  not  easily  recover, 
now  that  good  morals,  stern  principles,  and  a  strict  and 
unwavering  integrity  are  at  such  a  tremendous  discount. 
It  is  as  if  the  pilot  were  removed  just  when  the  storm 
raged  the  most  fiercely.  It  is  the  earthquake  yawning 
at  our  feet  just  at  the  time  when  we  most  need  a  sure 
and  solid  foundation.  God  be  merciful  unto  us  and 
bless  us,  and  help  us  now,  as  the  skies  look  so  dark,  and 
raise  us  up  another  prophet  like  unto  this  one,  who 
shall  catch  the  mantle  of  the  one  taken,  and  wear  it  as 
gracefully  and  beautifully  and  grandly  as  the  former 
blessed  owner." 


SUPPLIES    AND    CHRISTIAN    UNITY.  69 

Among  the  notes  written  by  Mr.  Bradlee  during  this 
period  is  the  following :  — 

"Thursday  evening,  Feb.  4,  1875,  at  7.20  mother 
passed  to  God,  having  been  seriously  ill  only  since  the 
Saturday  night  before,  yet  crippled  in  her  room  for 
three  years,  with  mind  unimpaired  and  with  a  good 
share  of  health." 

The  relations  between  himself  and  his  mother  were 
most  tender  and  beautiful.  Every  morning  he  visited 
her,  and  it  was  delightful  to  see  them  together.  He 
felt  her  loss  very  deeply. 

The  kindly  feeling  of  the  Christian  Unity  Sunday- 
school  toward  their  senior  pastor  was  expressed  in  the 
following  resolution :  — 

We,  the  members  of  the  Christian  Unity  Society,  desire  to 
express  our  heartfelt  sympathy  with  our  beloved  pastor  in  the 
irreparable  personal  loss  he  has  sustained  in  the  departure  from 
this  mortal  life  of  his  dearly  beloved  mother,  and  with  him  to 
devoutly  thank  our  heavenly  Father,  with  gratitude  unspeakable, 
that  she  was  spared  to  him,  and  all  who  loved  her,  so  long,  living 
and  dying  as  she  did  in  the  beauty  of  holiness. 

Two  years  later  he  made  the  following  reference  in 
a  sermon  preached  in  Harrison  Square  Church  :  — 

"  Eighty-five  years  ago  a  little  child  was  taken  away 
from  a  home  where  she  was  tenderly  cherished,  and 
where  her  heart  was  bound  up  so  closely  and  beauti- 
fully that  the  sundering  of  the  ties  seemed  to  be  the 
blasting  of  that  young  life  which  God  had  so  abun- 
dantly blessed  ;  and  the  whole  horizon  of  her  experience 
looked  dark  and  murky.  Yet,  could  she  have  heard  the 
angels  chant,    she   would   have   caught    these   words : 


70  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

'Thou  shalt  know  hereafter.'  After  seven  years  in 
the  new  home  the  young  girl  was  again  transplanted, 
and  brought  to  the  house  of  an  aged  friend  in  this  city ; 
and  thus  was  brought  about  the  breaking  again  of  ties 
that  were  deep,  rich,  and  comforting,  and  which  were 
fastened  strongly  and  splendidly  to  her  soul.  Yet, 
even  then,  in  her  doubt,  her  anxiety,  and  her  grief,  and 
in  her  troubled  gaze  upon  a  future  that  was  so  perplex- 
ing, she  might  have  heard  the  angels  chant,  'Thou 
shalt  know  hereafter.' 

"  Yet,  again,  after  sixteen  years,  a  change  came  ;  and 
this  time  it  was  a  marriage,  that  lasted  for  fifty  years, 
and  after  that  a  widowhood  of  eight  years,  and  then  her 
ascent  to  God.  And,  as  I  read  her  'journal '  that  was 
written  previous  to  this  marriage,  I  could  see  that  this 
great  change  in  life  was  viewed  seriously  and  prayer- 
fully, and  with  a  heart  that  rested  sweetly  upon  God. 
Even  then  she  might  have  heard  —  ay,  even  then  she 
did  hear  —  the  angels  whisper,  'Thou  shalt  know 
hereafter.' 

"  And  that  child,  and  that  young  girl,  and  that  young 
lady,  and  that  married  woman,  and  that  aged  one,  was, 
and  is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  mother  of  the  one  who  now 
speaks  these  words." 

Three  poems  written  about  this  time  are  given 
here :  — 

OUR  MOTHER. 

Our  mother  has  found  rest  with  God, 

Her  life  is  done  below, 
And  now,  held  up  by  staff  and  rod, 

She  higher  work  will  know. 


SUPPLIES    AND    CHRISTIAN    UNITY.  71 

Her  love,  through  many  years  so  true, 

Will  grow  still  strong  and  fast ; 
And  she  will  strengthen  and  renew 

The  friendships  of  the  past. 

Not  lost  to  us,  but  gone  "above," 

Still  watching  sweetly  near, 
Commissioned  by  a  God  of  love 

As  guardian  angel  here. 

We  will  not  weep  as  those  who  dread 

The  change  that  now  has  come : 
We  will  not  call  our  dear  one  dead, — 

She's  found  another  home. 

For  know  we  sure  she  safe  abides 

Where  all  is  peace  and  rest, 
And  in  a  world  of  joy  resides, 

Among  the  loved  and  blest. 

In  holy  faith,  to  God  we  give 

The  one  to  us  so  dear ; 
And,  saved  by  him,  she'll  ever  live, 

We  have  no  doubt  nor  fear. 


ONLY  TWO  OF  US  LEFT. 
Thoughts  suggested  on  Sunday  evening,  June  20,  1875. 

There  are  but  two  of  us  here : 

The  rest  have  gone  away; 
They  have  gone  unto  that  sphere 

Where  night  is  turned  to  day ! 

There  are  but  two  of  us  left, 

For  six  have  passed  to  God ; 
We  are  orphans  and  bereft, 

And  both  have  felt  the  rod. 


72  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Only  two  !    how  strange  we  feel ! 

No  father,  mother,  dear  ! 
Come,  my  brother,  let  us  kneel, 

We'll  kneel  together  here. 

Once,  you  know,  on  Sunday  night, 

We  knelt  around  the  bed. 
Was  it  not  a  holy  sight 

When  mother's  prayer  was  said  ? 

O  brother,  with  God  above, 
She  prays  for  you  and  me  ! 

And  she  keeps  for  us  her  love, 
And  bends  for  us  the  knee ! 

And  how  sweetly  does  she  pray 

For  light  upon  our  heart, 
And  that  God  may  give  a  stay 

That  never  will  depart ! 

Then  we'll  say,  "  Thy  will  be  done  !  " 

We  cannot  murmur  more  ; 
And,  through  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son, 

We'll  worship  and  adore. 

THOUGHTS    ON    LOOKING    AT    MY 
MOTHER'S    PICTURE. 

Dear  mother  in  heaven,  thy  picture  I  view : 
Thy  face,  ever  old,  yet  always  seems  new ! 
The  smile  is  the  same,  the  looks  are  as  kind ; 
And  yet  the  dear  voice  I  now  fail  to  find. 

But  out  of  the  lips  there  does  come  a  sound 
That  gives  a  grand  peace  to  all  things  around. 
O  days  holy,  when  again  I  shall  hear 
Thy  sweet  words  of  counsel,  full  of  good  cheer. 


SUPPLIES    AND    CHRISTIAN    UNITY.  73 

Mother,  I'll  wait  till  I  meet  thee  above, 
Ere  I  shall  know  of  thy  holiest  love ! 
No  more  partings  then  can  harrow  my  heart, 
And  God  to  us  both  all  peace  shall  impart. 

Out  of  his  tender  relation  with  his  mother  grew  a 
sermon  which  he  called  "  Our  Mothers,"  from  the  text, 
"There  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus  his  mother,"  St. 
John  xix.  25.     In  this  sermon  he  said  :  — 

"I  claim,  then,  for  the  first  place  in  your  heart  your 
mother, —  first,  because  placed  there  first,  because  she 
has  sacrificed  so  much  in  order  to  earn  that  position, 
and  because  you  yourselves  wish  to  secure  just  that 
stand  in  the  affection  of  your  own  dear  children.  I  say 
that  she  has  earned  the  right  of  the  highest  place  in 
your  regard,  and  I  challenge  a  denial.  How  many 
sleepless  nights  and  anxious  days  she  has  undergone  for 
our  sakes !  How  readily  she  has  sacrificed  all  social 
pleasures,  that  the  little  ones  in  the  house  might  not  be 
neglected !  How  nimbly  her  fingers  have  worked,  in 
order  that  she  might  obtain  the  necessary  clothing  for 
each  season  as  it  rapidly  rolled  round  !  How  patiently 
she  has  watched  the  growing  child,  gazing  intently  at 
each  look  and  each  movement,  and  examining  each  tone 
and  each  breath,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  all  things  run 
smoothly  and  well !  How  frequently  she  has  retired  to 
her  chamber,  that  she  might  quietly  pray  for  the  lambs, 
thus  gaining  the  right  spirit,  by  the  power  of  which 
she  could  properly  train  their  young  souls  ! 

.  .  .  "  Mother  !  Thanks  be  to  God  that  he  has  given 
us  that  name !  I  would  ever  speak  it  with  a  sweet 
tenderness  and  with  a  holy  reverence.     I  would  wear  it 


74  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

as  a  celestial  jewel  upon  my  heart  and  as  one  of  the 
best  gifts  of  the  good  Father.  I  would  lift  it  up  with 
many  choice  blessings,  as  I  hold  my  secret  intercourse 
with  the  Eternal  One. 

"  Oh,  may  all  understand  the  fragrance  that  is  wrapped 
up  in  the  title,  the  glory  that  engirdles  the  relationship, 
and  all  the  power,  all  the  beauty,  and  all  the  grandeur 
that  sweeten  and  hallow  the  circle  of  its  blessed 
influence." 


VI. 

TRANSIENT    SUPPLIES. 

PASTOR  PRO    TEM.,  PASTOR,  AND 
SENIOR    PASTOR   AT    HARRI- 
SON   SQUARE   CHURCH. 

July  i,  1875 — June  i,  1890. 


VI. 


TRANSIENT  SUPPLIES.  PASTOR  PRO  TEM., 
PASTOR,  AND  SENIOR  PASTOR  AT  HAR- 
RISON SQUARE  CHURCH. 

July  i,  1875  —  June  i,  1890. 

BETWEEN  the  above  dates  Mr.  Bradlee  located 
three  periods  of  his  ministry :  the  eighth,  from 
July  1,  1875,  t0  March  5,  1876,  when  he  supplied  vari- 
ous pulpits,  decided  not  to  accept  a  call  to  Walpole, 
Mass.,  and  had  temporary  care  of  the  pulpit  of  the 
Unitarian  church  at  Melrose;  the  ninth,  when  he 
was  pastor  pro  tern,  at  Harrison  Square,  March  5  to 
June  4,  1876;  and  the  tenth,  June  4,  1876— June  1, 
1890,  when  he  was  pastor  and  senior  pastor  at  Harri- 
son Square.  This  church  was  formerly  called  the 
"Third  Unitarian  Society  in  Dorchester." 

He  writes  thus  of  the  Harrison  Square  Church : 
"In  1848  it  was  found  that  the  church  on  the  hill  — 
then  under  the  loving  care  of  that  faithful  and  apos- 
tolic shepherd,  Nathaniel  Hall  —  was  overflowing  with 
numbers,  and  hardly  large  enough  to  accommodate  the 
residents  of  all  parts  of  Dorchester,  and  having  no 
room  for  the  new-comers  who  were  perpetually  choos- 
ing their  homes  in  this  delightful  locality;  and  so,  too, 
many  of   the  members  of   the  old  parish,  who  lived  a 


78  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

great  distance  from  the  sanctuary,  felt  more  and  more 
the  difficulty  of  attending  service  and  the  need  of  a 
temple  nearer  to  their  own  dwellings.  And  at  that 
time,  also,  political  excitement  ran  high,  and  holy  men 
belonged  to  all  of  the  parties,  and  were  equally  consci- 
entious and  earnest,  and  of  strong  minds  and  of  loving 
souls,  and  yet  diametrically  opposite  in  opinion,  and 
advocating  measures  that  could  never  be  reconciled. 
And  mainly  for  these  three  reasons  I  have  named  — 
the  overflowing  of  the  ancient  meeting-house,  the  great 
distance  of  the  homes  of  some  of  the  old  parish,  and 
the  mighty  but  sincere  political  antipathies  —  the 
Harrison  Square  Church  came  into  life." 

This  church  having  been  somewhat  reduced  in 
numbers,  Mr.  Bradlee  offered  to  take  charge  of  it,  and 
his  kind  offer  was  gratefully  accepted ;  and  in  a  letter 
from  the  Committee  of  the  church  we  find  these 
words :  — 

The  committee  feel  that  they  cannot  adequately  express  their 
thanks  to  you  for  thus  undertaking  an  arduous  work  for  the  good 
of  the  society  in  its  time  of  need,  but  hope  by  their  future 
co-operation  to  testify,  so  far  as  they  can,  to  their  sense  of  your 
kindness. 

This  temporary  service  continued  until  June  4,  1876, 
when  he  began  his  service  as  regular  pastor  of  the 
church  in  accordance  with  a  call  sent  to  him  May  8. 

The  three  months  during  which  he  had  already 
supplied  the  pulpit  had  been  fruitful  of  good  results. 

With  the  call  came  the  following  resolution :  — 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  society  be  presented  to  the 
Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee  for  his  very  generous  and  acceptable  service 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  79 

in  supplying  this  society  with  regular  preaching  during  the  present 
three  months. 

Mr.  Bradlee  in  his  reply  said,  "  Of  course,  I  am 
aware  that  our  success  will  depend  not  upon  my 
efforts  alone,  nor  upon  the  earnest  co-operation  of  my 
people,  but  mainly  and  chiefly  will  be  secured  by  the 
grace  and  help  of  Almighty  God;  and  to  that  benignant 
and  holy  help  I  commend  both  myself  and  you  and  all 
with  whom  I  shall  in  future  be  so  closely  connected." 

Of  the  three  months'  supply  at  Harrison  Square  he 
speaks  as  "  preparation  for  the  grand  work  at  Harrison 
Square, —  ploughing  the  field  with  a  joy  and  success  no 
words  can  describe." 

It  was  thought  best  not  to  have  a  great  service  of 
installation  ;  but  arrangements  were  made  for  a  recog- 
nition service,  in  accordance  with  strict  Congregational 
usage,  on  the  first  Sunday  of  the  new  pastorate.  Writ- 
ing of  this  service,  Mr.  Bradlee  says  :  "  Sunday,  June 
4,  1876,  I  was  recognized  as  pastor  of  the  'Harrison 
Square  Unitarian  Society.'  The  church  was  quite 
full,  and  the  pulpit  and  the  altar  were  beautifully  adorned 
with  flowers.  Former  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer  and  of  the  Christian  Unity  Society  placed 
on  the  altar  two  splendid  baskets  of  flowers." 

The  services  were  as  follows  :  — 

Organ.  . 

Hymn.     Invocation  by  the  pastor  elect. 
Scripture. 

Sermon  by  the  pastor  elect. 

Text,  Matt.  v.  33,  34.  "  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said 
by  them  of  old  time,  .  .  .  but  I  say  unto  you." 


80  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Immediately  after  the  sermon  prayer  was  offered  by 
the  pastor  elect. 

Joseph  Sargent,  Esq.,  then  approached,  and  said  :  — 

In  the  name  and  in  behalf  of  the  Harrison  Square  Unitarian 
Society  I  extend  to  you,  Mr.  Bradlee,  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship as  the  recognition  of  your  position  as  our  pastor  and  the 
official  announcement  of  the  sacred  relation  which  you  this  day 
assume. 

The  Pastor  accepted  the  trust  with  a  short  address ; 
and  then  offered  prayer,  after  which  the  congregation 
sang  a  hymn. 

After  this  the  communion  was  celebrated. 

The  first  social  gathering  of  the  parish,  after  the 
installation  of  Mr.  Bradlee,  was  on  the  7th  of  June,  the 
twenty-first  anniversary  of  his  marriage.  The  parish 
was  much  encouraged  by  the  interest  which  Mr.  Bradlee 
immediately  took  in  its  affairs.  On  the  nth  of  June 
sixteen  persons  were  baptized, —  an  indication  of  new 
interest  in  the  life  of  the  society. 

On  Feb.  26,  1877,  Mr.  Bradlee  spoke  these  words 
of  commendation,  which  indicate  the  measure  of  suc- 
cess which  had  thus  far  attended  his  labors  :  — 

"  For  my  part,  when  I  think  how  much  you  have  all 
worked,  and  how  cordially  you  have  given  of  your  time 
and  your  strength  and  your  money,  and  how  earnestly 
you  have  called  to  our  aid  your  outside  friends  ;  when  I 
think  of  your  patient  labors  and  your  loving  spirit  and 
your  self-sacrificing  devotion, —  I  can  truthfully  claim 
that  I  have  one  of  the  best  parishes  in  Massachusetts  !  " 

On  the  4th  of   March,   1877,  he  read  the  following 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  8 1 

from  the  pulpit :  "  One  year  ago  to-day  I  took  tempo- 
rary charge  of  this  pulpit,  not  then  dreaming  what 
twelve  months  have  since  revealed  ;  and  if  each  year  in 
the  future  could  be  like  the  last  one,  for  my  part,  I 
could  say,  Glory  be  to  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ! 

"But  we  must  not  expect  too  much,  and  we  must  be 
very  thankful  for  every  victory  gained  ;  and  we  must 
each  and  all  do  all  that  we  can  every  day  of  our  lives  to 
build  up  this  portion  of  God's  kingdom,  knowing  all  the 
time  that  all  success  is  the  gift  of  the  dear  Father  of  us 
all,  who  works  with  those  who  work  for  him." 

On  the  28th  of  May,  1877,  he  made  a  brief  address 
at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  Harrison  Square 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  always  delighted 
to  witness  interchange  of  courtesies  between  denom- 
inations. 

As  in  his  other  parishes,  he  made  much  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, teaching  a  Bible  class,  preparing  for  elabo- 
rate floral  festivals,  and  in  every  possible  way  gaining 
the  interest  of  young  and  old  in  this  important  branch 
of  church  work.  He  acted  as  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendent until  June,  1883. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1878,  Mr.  Bradlee  preached 
a  sermon  on  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Harrison  Square  Church,  in  which  he  spoke 
of  the  church's  history,  and  gave  some  personal  recol- 
lections of  its  pastors.     This  sermon  was  printed. 

He  gave  the  history  of  the  church  in  rhyme  as 
follows  :  — 


82  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

1848  — 1878. 

THIRTIETH    ANNIVERSARY    OF  THE    HARRISON 
SQUARE    CHURCH. 

THIRTY    YEARS. 

In  forty-eight  this  church  began 

Its  holy  work  for  God  and  man ; 
And  Brooks  at  first  the  word  did  give, 

That  needy  souls  might  wake  and  live. 

And  Williams  next  this  place  did  fill, 

Longing  to  do  his  Father's  will. 
Twelve  months  he  spoke  the  word  with  power : 

Kindly  we  speak  his  name  this  hour. 

And  Johnson,  too,  with  mind  all  bright, 

Anxious  for  truth  and  wanting  light, 
Awhile  held  service  in  this  place, 

With  earnest  words  and  loving  face. 

Then  Bulfinch  came,  the  man  of  peace ; 

Our  love  for  him  will  never  cease  : 
Long  will  his  gentle,  holy  heart 

On  all  our  souls  fresh  strength  impart. 

Marvin  followed  this  child  of  God, 

Took  up  his  staff,  and  held  his  rod, 
And,  when  he  felt  the  task  too  great, 

Left  us  all  for  a  distant  State. 

Hinckley  took  up  the  waiting  field 

With  tongue  of  fire,  a  force  did  wield  ; 

And  large  crowds  came  to  hear  him  speak 
Of  holy  truths  from  week  to  week. 

But  soon  he  went;  and  Badger  came, 
A  man  of  thought  and  college  fame. 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  83 

He  stood  on  guard  till  trial  fell, 

How  great  and  sharp  no  words  can  tell ! 

To  Seaver  then  the  work  was  given 

To  guide  the  waiting  soul  to  heaven ; 
And,  filled  with  zeal  and  love  and  power, 

Nobly  he  toiled  from  hour  to  hour. 

His  name  we'll  ever  speak  with  love  ; 

And,  when  we  look  to  God  above, 
We'll  pray,  wherever  he  may  go, 

Blessings  upon  his  life  may  flow. 

And  Bradlee  —  coming  days  must  say 

Of  good  or  ill,  as  best  they  may  ; 
For  he  himself  must  silent  be, 

And  leave  his  fate  to  history. 

The  good  work  went  on  steadily;  and,  on  Dec.  n, 
1879,  the  people  celebrated  the  twenty-fifth  anniver- 
sary of  their  pastor's  ordination.  A  large  gathering 
was  held  in  the  vestry,  a  bountiful  repast  was  served, 
a  beautiful  bouquet  was  given  to  Mr.  Bradlee,  and  an 
informal  evening  was  enjoyed  by  all. 

Among  many  letters  received  by  Mr.  Bradlee  on  this 
occasion  were  three  which  gave  him  much  pleasure. 
They  were  from  the  Rev.  Rufus  Ellis,  the  Rev.  F.  A. 
Whitney,  and  Bishop  Huntington,  the  only  surviving 
members  of  the  company  of  men  who  officiated  at  his 
ordination. 

Mr.  Ellis  wrote  :  — 

I  well  recall  the  occasion,  and  that  it  was  a  very  pleasant  one  ; 
and  all  the  more  so  because  I  had  abundant  reason  for  my  confi- 
dence that  we  were  only  giving  outward  expression  to  what  had 


84  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

already  been  inwardly  experienced  when  we  laid  upon  you  the 
ordaining  hands  and  spoke  our  words  of  charge  and  welcome.  .  .  . 
If  you  are  not  where  we  placed  you,  it  has  not  been  because  you 
have  been  driven  about  by  a  restless  spirit,  but  because  you  have 
followed  the  leadings  of  Providence. 

Bishop  Huntington  wrote  :  — 

After  all  these  years,  your  handwriting  is  very  much  like  itself ; 
and  so,  I  have  no  doubt,  is  your  heart.  Both  may  have  grown 
better.  I  wish  I  could  oftener  see  the  one  and  feel  the  warmth 
of  the  other. 

All  the  good  work  you  have  done,  and  the  good  words  you 
have  spoken,  are  treasured  up  by  Him  whose  years  never  end. 
Time  may  not  reveal  it  all,  but  eternity  will.  .  .  . 

Count  yourself  happy  —  I  will  not  say  enviable  —  that  all  this 
quarter  of  a  century  you  have  been  able  to  live  and  work  so  near 
where  you  were  born  and  began.  There  is  only  one  "  better 
country." 

Rev.  F.  A.  Whitney  wrote  :  — 

More  than  we  care  to  tell  you,  we  have  learned  of  your  faith- 
fulness to  the  Master's  work.  .  .  .  My  prayer  is  that  you  may  still 
labor  in  the  Christian  vineyard  so  long  as  you  can  thus  faithfully 
serve  God  and  man. 

June  7,  1880,  was  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his 
marriage.  He  writes :  "  This  is  our  silver-wedding 
day.  We  concluded  not  to  celebrate  it  publicly,  be- 
cause hundreds  of  invitations  would  have  to  be  given, 
and  our  house  would  not  be  large  enough  for  the  com- 
pany ;  yet  the  day  has  been  celebrated  by  outsiders 
most  wonderfully.  ...  It  was  a  very  pleasant  day,  and 
the  memory  of  it  will  last  forever." 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  85 

A  week  later  the  parish  took  notice  of  the  anniver- 
sary, and  presented  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradlee  with  a  beau- 
tiful mantel  clock. 

In  receiving  the  gift,  Mr.  Bradlee  made  an  appropri- 
ate address,  in  which  he  said:  "It  reminds  me  of  the 
past,  of  the  pleasant  years  I  have  spent  with  you  all, 
of  our  joys  and  sorrows,  of  our  grand,  inspiring  fellow- 
ship. It  speaks  of  the  present, —  of  the  mighty  oppor- 
tunities now  before  us,  the  holy  privileges,  the  inter- 
change of  duties  and  affections.  It  speaks  of  the  future, 
of  the  time  when  this  clock  that  you  have  presented 
shall  tick  for  other  people  and  tell  its  story  of  your 
generosity  to  those  who  come  after  us,  not  a  time  that 
brings  a  sadness  to  my  thoughts  ;  for  I  hope  then  I  may 
be  in  a  better  world,  surrounded  by  you,  my  people, 
and  all  of  us  worshipping  the  good  Father  in  the  great 
cathedral  above.  I  thank  you  for  this  fresh  proof  of 
your  love." 

On  Sunday,  Sept.  25,  1881,  after  the  death  of 
President  Garfield,  Mr.  Bradlee  preached  a  sermon 
from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken  :  — 

"  Let  us  suppose,  for  a  moment,  a  character  that  we 
can  call  good,  without  any  impeachment  of  the  phrase, 
without  any  muffling  of  our  conscience,  without  any 
degradation  to  our  soul,  and  without  any  fears  of  a 
challenge  from  any  critical  lips. 

"Look  at  it  in  boyhood,  and  we  claim  that  then  there 
must  be  obedience  and  truth  and  love  and  purity  and 
activity  and  holiness.  Suppose  that  it  starts  under 
unfavorable  circumstances,  in  a  log  hut,  if  you  will,  in 
almost  a  wilderness,  surrounded    by  pinching  poverty, 


86  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

with  a  hard  battle  to  fight  from  the  very  beginning  of 
existence.  Why,  then,  we  must  look  for  courage  and 
faith  and  perseverance  and  a  laudable  pride  to  con- 
quer circumstances  and  take  a  position  in  the  world, — 
a  life,  though  shaded  in  the  tender  years,  yet  so  glo- 
rified by  fidelity  that  the  lookers-on  will  be  astonished, 
and  careful  minds  will  predict  a  splendid  future. 

"  Suppose,  as  the  years  advance,  that  this  character, 
or,  if  you  choose  to  put  it  so,  this  young  man  of  our 
imagination,  longs  to  be  thoroughly  educated,  feels 
beating  powers  in  his  mind,  grasps  after  mighty  ideas, 
and  is  determined  to  become  a  thinker  and  a  giver-out 
of  thoughts.  Why,  then,  the  young  man  must  give  his 
spare  time  to  books,  and  obtain  the  friendship  of 
instructors,  and  plod  patiently  along,  step  by  step, 
through  preparatory  studies,  till,  the  preliminary 
branches  being  mastered,  an  entrance  into  college  is 
obtained  ;  and  then  our  friend,  in  his  college  life,  must 
be  constantly  industrious,  filled  with  high  moral  prin- 
ciple, thoroughly  pure,  and  really  religious,  and  never 
ashamed,  if  the  trial  should  come,  of  showing  the 
banner  of  religion,  and  of  standing  by  the  right  through 
every  contingency. 

"  But  let  us  carry  our  imagination  a  little  further,  and 
let  us  suppose  that  our  hero  graduates  with  honor,  with 
the  respect  of  the  professors  and  the  president,  with 
the  love  of  his  classmates,  and  with  a  good  name,  that 
is  better  than  riches,  and  then  becomes  a  teacher,  and 
finally  the  president  of  a  college,  and  we  know  just 
what  he  will  teach,  just  the  power  that  will  leap  out  of 
his  teaching ;  and  we  know  that  his  grand  aim  will  be 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  87 

to  make  true  men  and  noble  women,  and  correct 
thinkers  and  good  citizens ;  and  we  know  that  those 
who  are  fortunate  enough  to  be  labelled  as  his  pupils 
will  bear  his  mark  with  them,  in  their  accomplishments, 
and  graces,  and  powers. 

"  For,  says  the  great  John  Milton,  '  The  end  of  learn- 
ing is  to  know  God,  and  out  of  that  knowledge  to  love 
him,  and  to  imitate  him,  as  we  may  the  nearest,  by 
possessing  our  souls  of  true  virtue.'  So  the  pupils  of 
the  one  we  are  trying  to  sketch  will  be  filled  with 
virtue  and  holiness  and  peace,  because  the  teacher  is 
himself  a  glorious  embodiment  of  the  same. 

"  But  go  a  step  further,  and  let  us  imagine  that  a  great 
civil  war  springs  up,  and  men  are  needed  who  shall  take 
the  lead, —  men  of  bravery,  men  of  action,  men  of  wis- 
dom and  experience  and  insight, —  and  we  shall  expect 
that  our  gifted  one  will  take  a  place  as  a  commander, 
and  that  he  will  receive  continually  promotion  after 
promotion,  and  honor  after  honor  ;  and  in  time  we  should 
not  be  surprised,  should  he  be  sent  to  Congress,  and 
there  will  he  try  to  do  his  duty,  there  will  his  speeches 
do  him  great  credit,  there  will  he  gain  the  reputation  — 
the  pre-eminent  reputation  —  of  a  true  patriot  and 
scholar  and  statesman. 

"  Then,  again,  in  order  that  we  may  finish  the  picture, 
we  desire  to  have  our  hero  called  to  the  highest  place 
of  responsibility ;  and  we  look,  of  course,  for  that  final 
step  of  power,  the  assumption  of  the  Presidential  office. 
And,  then,  we  know  that  we  shall  find  the  same  person, 
the  good  boy,  the  faithful  young  man,  the  gifted  teacher, 
the  experienced  legislator,  all  developed  into  the  gentle 


88  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

and  the  wise  and  the  thoughtful  and  the  loving  Presi- 
dent ;  and  we  shall  not  be  disappointed. 

"  But  why  need  I  speak  now  of  any  case  that  might 
be,  why  need  I  create  an  ideal  personage,  why  need  I 
call  upon  my  imagination  to  illustrate  what  seems  to  be 
a  good  character  on  its  most  fortunate  side,  why  any 
fanciful  delineation,  when  our  hearts — all  our  hearts 
and  the  hearts  of  all  the  people  all  over  the  world,  in 
high  places  and  in  low  places  —  are  now  mourning  for 
one  who,  in  his  earthly  life,  was  an  actual  embodiment 
of  that  which  I  have,  till  just  this  moment,  called 
merely  the  possible  ?  Why  should  I  not  speak  of  what 
has  been,  of  what  is  no  more  on  the  mortal  side,  of  our 
beloved  President  who  has  fallen  asleep,  of  that  good 
boy,  that  true  pupil,  that  noble  collegian,  that  conscien- 
tious officer,  that  gifted  legislator,  that  beloved  head  of 
the  nation,  and,  when  stricken  down,  that  resigned  child 
of  God,  who  is  now  a  saint  in  heaven  ? 

"He  started  from  the  log  cabin  in  the  wilderness,  and 
he  passed  away  occupying  a  position  the  greatest  in  the 
land  ;  and  he  was  one  who  was  universally  acknowl- 
edged as  a  man  of  massive  intellect,  of  large  heart,  of  a 
loving  soul,  strong  in  endurance,  ready  in  utterance, 
and  having  a  healthy,  living,  and  glorious  and  sub- 
missive faith. 

"  Look  at  the  eighty  days  of  his  prostration,  and  you 
hear  no  murmur,  no  words  uttered  against  the  assassin  ; 
and  you  behold  a  perfect  resignation  to  the  will  of 
Almighty  God.  Oh,  as  we  think  of  his  letter  to  his 
wife  when  he  was  first  injured,  of  his  few  words  to  his 
aged  mother,  of  his  gentle  greetings  in  his  sick-chamber, 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  89 

of  all  his  dear  ones,  and  of  his  constant  respect  to  his 
medical  attendants ;  when  we  think  of  his  glorious 
clinging  to  his  one  chance  for  life,  and  yet  of  his  willing- 
ness to  go,  if  God  should  so  order  ;  when  we  hear  him 
speak  so  lovingly,  toward  the  last,  of  the  United  States, 
—  we  feel  that  we  have  lost  not  only  our  President,  but 
our  brother,  our  father,  our  dearest  friend ;  and,  as  we 
find  that  his  last  words  are  about  the  great  pain  in  his 
heart,  oh,  a  great  pain  comes  to  our  hearts,  and  this, 
his  dying  telegram,  bows  us  low  in  grief. 

"The  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord." 

TO  BE  SUNG  AT  THE  HARRISON  SQUARE  CHURCH  SUNDAY, 

Sept.  25,  18S1. 

Tune,  —  Federal  Street. 

Rest,  noble  chief,  and  sweetly  rest, 
Thy  work  is  done,  God's  will  is  best. 
A  faithful  life  is  finished  now  : 
The  seal  of  death  is  on  thy  brow. 

Rise,  noble  chief,  rise  up  to  heaven, 
Another  life  our  God  has  given ; 
And  angel  robes  are  thine  by  right, 
And  all  thy  days  shall  now  be  bright. 

Take  now  thy  crown,  beloved  of  all, 
And  hear  our  God's  approving  call ; 
Whilst  we  on  earth  bow  low  and  weep, 
And  sad  and  lonely  vigils  keep. 

It  was  during  this  pastorate  that  he  purchased  and 
moved  into  the  house  57  West  Brookline  Street.     The 


90  IN    MEMORIAM  '.    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

removal  was  made  Aug.  28,  1882.  The  house  fronted 
on  Blackstone  Square.  The  study  was  at  the  rear  of 
the  house,  —  a  very  large  room,  with  three  windows  look- 
ing out  upon  a  large  open  space  which  belonged  to  the 
estate. 

In  this  house  many  notable  gatherings  were  held  in 
answer  to  his  invitation.  The  study  was  opened  into 
the  large  parlor  through  folding  doors,  and  it  was  an 
ideal  place  for  entertaining. 

Here  the  January  meeting  of  the  Boston  Associa- 
tion was  held  for  many  years.  This  was  always  the 
largest  meeting  of  the  Association  for  the  year,  and 
was  made  a  M festival"  for  all  who  attended. 

These  were  the  last  days  of  many  of  the  leaders  of 
Boston  Unitarianism  after  Channing,  and  they  were 
present  in  good  numbers  at  these  meetings  at  Mr. 
Bradlee's  house. 

In  his  theological  belief  Mr.  Bradlee  always  presented 
the  traditions  of  the  earlier  Unitarianism,  but  his 
preaching  was  practical  rather  than  theological :  and 
his  personal  greeting  and  fellowship  were  sincere  and 
cordial  to  all,  regardless  of  their  opinions  in  theology  or 
methods  of  church  work. 

The  prosperity  which  attended  his  Harrison  Square 
work  was  unabated.  His  interest  in  the  parish  and 
their  appreciation  of  his  kindness  are  indicated  in  the 
following  letter  :  — 

Harrison  Square,  April  17,  1883. 
Dear  Mr.  Bradlee,  —  At  a  meeting   of  the  parish,  held   last 
evening,  I  was  requested  to  tender  you  the  most  grateful  thanks  of 
the  church  for  your  generous  gift ;  and  we  fervently  hope  that  in 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  9  I 

the  future  the  parish  may  so  prosper  that  you  will  never  regret 
your  action  or  find  another  occasion  to  repeat  it. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Edwin  J.  Lewis,  Jr.,  Clerk. 

June  10,  1883,  he  ceased  to  be  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  but  retained  his  position  as  teacher  of 
the  Bible  class.  The  school  now  numbered  one  hun- 
dred and  one  members,  and  was  very  nourishing. 

Mr.  Bradlee's  heart  was  gladdened  by  the  receipt  of 
the  following  letter  from  one  of  the  most  active  mem- 
bers of  his  church  :  — 

Dorchester,  May  25,  1884. 

Dear  Mr.  Bradlee,  —  It  does  me  good  to  hear  the  many  good 
words  that  are  spoken  on  every  hand  of  my  pastor,  —  of  his  ser- 
mon and  service  to-day.  I  believe  we  all  are  working  in  our 
church  for  something  better  than  mere  recognition  in  the  com- 
munity ;  but  still  it  is  pleasant  to  have  recognition,  and  to  feel  that 
we  are  growing  into  it  as  your  ministry  goes  on,  and  I  want  you 
to  know  how  much  your  hearers  were  impressed  with  your  sermon 
to-day.  Yours  truly, 

Dec.  11,  1884,  was  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  Mr. 
Bradlee's  ordination.  The  following  circular  was  is- 
sued to  a  large  number  of  clergymen  and  laymen  :  — 

Church  at  Harrison  Square. 

Welcome  all  to  the  Thirtieth  Anniversary  of  the  Ordination  of 
Caleb  D.  Bradlee. 

Dec.   11,  1884.  6  —  9.  1854  —  30—1884. 

The  Clergymen  officiating  at  the  Ordination  in  1854  were:  — 
Rev.     Dr.    and    Prof.    Noyes,    of     Cambridge,    Mass.;    Rev. 
T.  Starr  King,  of  Boston,  Mass. ;    Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington, 


92  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

of  Boston,  Mass. ;  Rev.  F.  A.  Whitney,  of  Brighton,  Mass. ; 
Rev.  Rufus  Ellis,  of  Boston,  Mass. ;  Rev.  Arthur  B. 
Fuller,  of  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev.  Dr.  James  Walker,  Presi- 
dent of    Harvard  College. 

The  only  survivors  are  :  — 

Rt.  Rev.  F.  D.  Huntington,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Central  New 
York;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Rufus  Ellis,  of   Boston,  Mass. 

30.         1854  —  Dec.  11  — 1884. 

C.  D.  Bradlee. 

The  following  account  of  the  celebration  is  from  the 
Boston   Traveller  of  Dec.  13,   1884:  — 

Thirty  Years  a  Minister. 

The  church  at  Harrison  Square,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  entertained  a  large  company  Thursday  even- 
ing at  a  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  ordination  of  their 
pastor. 

A  bountiful  repast  was  provided  by  the  ladies  of  the  society, 
and  both  the  vestry  and  audience-room  of  the  church  were  elabo- 
rately decorated.  Supper  was  served  at  about  a  quarter  before 
seven.  Grace  was  said  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rufus  Ellis,  one  of  the 
two  survivors  of  those  who  were  present  and  took  part  in  Mr. 
Bradlee's  ordination. 

Among  the  ministers  present  were  noticed  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Hale, 
who  for  thirty  years  has  been  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Bradlee's» 
the  Rev.  Alfred  Manchester,  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Green,  who  have  been  closely  related  with  Mr.  Bradlee 
for  fifteen  years,  and  others  well  known  in  the  ministry,  and  also 
many  distinguished  laymen. 

Services  in  the  church  commenced  about  eight  o'clock,  and 
were  as  follows :  voluntary  on  the  organ ;  anthem,  by  a  special 
choir;    invocation  by  the  pastor;    hymn,  by  Miss  Ricord,  to  the 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  93 

tune  of  "America";  prayer  by  Rev.  C.  R.  Eliot;  anthem  by  the 
choir. 

Addresses  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rufus  Ellis,  of  the  First  Church  of 
Boston ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  E.  Hale,  pastor  of  the  South  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Boston;  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson,  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Quincy;  the  Rev.  Alfred  Man- 
chester, pastor  of  the  Olney  Street  Congregational  Church,  of 
Providence,  R.I.;  W.  H.  Baldwin,  Esq.,  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Eliot, 
and  Thomas  Cushing,  Esq.  These  services  were  very  interesting. 
The  music  was  of  a  high  order,  and  the  poem  by  Miss  Ricord 
was  sung  with  the  spirit  that  its  merit  demanded. 

The  addresses  of  the  older  men  were  full  of  touching  allusions 
to  the  past,  and  of  grateful  appreciation  of  Mr.  Bradlee's  work 
in  the  ministry.  Those  of  the  younger  men  were  tributes  of 
gratitude  and  love  for  the  kindly  influence  and  generous  helpful- 
ness for  which  Mr.  Bradlee  has  always  been  noted  in  his  rela- 
tions with  young  people. 

About  fifty  letters  were  received  from  persons  well  known  in 
the  community  in  their  varied  professions;  and  the  committee 
having  them  in  charge  being  unable,  for  lack  of  time,  to  read 
them  all,  selected  those  from  the  following  persons :  Professor 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  LL.D.,  the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop, 
LL.D.,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Hill,  ex-president  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, the  Hon.  George  William  Curtis,  LL.D.,  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Choate,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips  Brooks,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  F.  D. 
Huntington,  the  Rev.  Frederic  Hinckley,  the  Rev.  Henry  C. 
Badger. 

Mr.  Bradlee  is  a  graduate  of  Chauncy  Hall  School,  1848, 
Harvard  College,  1852,  and  during  the  thirty  years  of  his  profes- 
sional life  has  received  distinguished  honors  from  many  histor- 
ical and  literary  societies,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 

Another  account  says  :  — 

The  ministers  in  their  remarks  touched  generously  upon  vari- 
ous periods  of  the  pastor's  life. 


94  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Dr.  Ellis  spoke  of  the  early  studies  and  sorrows ;  Dr.  Hale,  of 
the  work  done  for  the  church;  Thomas  Cushing,  Esq.,  of  the 
boy  from  seven  to  seventeen ;  William  H.  Baldwin,  Esq.,  of  the 
young  preacher  as  he  first  heard  him  when  he  took  his  start  in 
life;  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Eliot,  of  the  fellowship  of  the  adjacent 
church ;  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson,  of  the  influence  given  to  his 
early  studies  by  the  words  of  the  pastor ;  the  Rev.  Alfred  Man- 
chester, of  his  long  fellowship,  covering  one  half  of  the  thirty 
years,  and  of  the  home  life  of  the  one  he  so  much  loved. 

The  whole  spirit  of  the  meeting  was  cheerful,  happy,  holy. 

A  volume  might  be  filled  with  the  letters  of  congrat- 
ulation which  poured  in  upon  Mr.  Bradlee,  a  few  of 
which  are  here  given  :  — 

Syracuse,  Dec.  2,  1884. 
My  dear  Brother, —  Your  very  kind  remembrance  of  me  in 
your  hour  of  joy  and  gratitude  touches  my  heart. 

Most  sincerely  do  I  wish  you,  and  all  about  you  and  dear  to 
you,  a  feast  of  true  gladness  and  future  years  of  fruitful  work. 
Faithfully  and  affectionately, 

(Signed)  F.  D.  Huntington. 

296  Beacon  Street,  Nov.  28,  1884. 
My  dear  Mr.  Bradlee, —  I  cannot  be  with  you,  I  fear,  on  the 
evening  of  December  II.  I  need  not  assure  you  of  my  cordial 
good  wishes,  and  my  hope  that  the  occasion  will  prove  as  happy 
as  a  cheerful  faith  and  the  memory  of  long  and  faithful  services 
can  make  it.     Believe  me,  dear  Mr.  Bradlee, 

Very  truly  yours, 
(Signed)  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 

November  19. 
Dear  Mr.  Bradlee, —  I  know  of  nothing  which  can  prevent  my 
accepting  of  your  very  kind  invitation  to  be  present  with  you  on 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  95 

the  thirtieth  anniversary.  It  will  give  me  much  pleasure  so  to  do, 
and  I  am  glad  to  be  so  remembered  by  my  lifelong  friend  and 
the  son  of  my  honored  and  beloved  parishioners. 

Most  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  Rufus  Ellis. 

Trenton,  N.J.,  Nov.  27,  1884. 
My   sincere    congratulations   on    the    happy   occasion   which 
gathers  your  friends  and  the  members  of  your  church  and  society 
to   bid  you  "good   cheer,"  and  listen  with  new  interest  to  the 
voice  of  instruction. 

(Signed)  D.  L.  Dix. 

25  Brimmer  Street,  Boston,  Mass., 

Nov.  29,  1884. 
Dear  Brother  Bradlee, —  Accept  my  thanks  for  the  reminder 
of  your  ordination  which  you  have  kindly  sent  me. 

I  fear  that  I  shall  be  prevented  by  other  engagements  from 
being  present  at  the  celebration  of  your  thirtieth  anniversary  on 
December  1 1  ;  but  I  send  my  hearty  good  wishes  and  congratu- 
lations on  your  attaining  so  marked  a  point  in  the  ministerial 
dignity  of  years  and  faithful  service  in  the  Master's  vineyard. 
Fraternally  yours, 

(Signed)        Henry  W.  Foote. 

233  Clarendon  Street,  Boston. 
Dear  Mr.  Bradlee, —  I  send  you  my  greeting  on  your  anniver- 
sary, and  wish  you  many  happy,  useful  years. 

Yours  faithfully, 

(Signed)        Phillips  Brooks. 

West  New  Brighton, 
Staten  Island,  N.Y.,  Dec.  5,  1884. 
Dear  Sir, —  I  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  kindness  in  sending 


96  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

me  the  invitation  to  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  your  ordination, 
and  I  wish  )'OU  joy  upon  the  interesting  occasion. 

Truly  yours, 
(Signed)  George  William  Curtis. 

Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee. 

First  Congregational  Church, 

Quincy,  Mass.,  Dec.  3,  1884. 

My  dear  Friend  Bradlee, —  I  have  received  notice  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  your  ordination  to  the 
Christian  ministry  and  invitation  to  the  celebration  of  it  which 
is  to  take  place  the  nth  inst. 

I  need  hardly  write  you  that  I  with  great  pleasure  accept  the 
invitation,  and  think  the  occasion  of  it  to  be  solemn  in  its  sug- 
gestiveness,  and  yet  containing  that  about  which  there  well  may 
be  rejoicing. 

Some  fifteen  years  of  that  ministry  of  thirty  years  I  have  in- 
timate knowledge  of. 

I  was  brought  into  pleasant  relations  with  you  when  first  I 
began  to  study  for  the  ministry.  I  taught  in  the  Sunday-school 
of  one  of  the  churches  over  which  you  were  settled.  I  have  sat 
under  your  preaching,  and  have  enjoyed  the  intercourse  of  your 
study;  and  now  it  is  with  entire  satisfaction  that  I  take  advantage 
of  this  opportunity  to  tell  you  how  much  I  have  gained  from 
your  ministry  and  how  highly  I  esteem  it. 

Your  kind  counsel,  the  example  of  your  accurate  and  strict 
devotion  to  your  duties,  your  healing,  comforting,  and  encourag- 
ing pulpit  and  pastoral  administrations,  have  been  helpful  to  me 
in  many  ways,  as  they  must  have  been  to  the  thousands  who  have 
heard  your  words  or  in  any  manner  have  come  under  your  influ- 
ence. 

May  the  thirty  years  of  devoted  service  lengthen  to  fifty,  and 
further  multitudes  find  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  Christian  ministry ! 
Hoping  to  see  you  soon  and  talk  the  matter  over  face  to  face, 
I  remain,  very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  D.  M.  Wilson. 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  97 

Hollis,  Corner  of  Tremont  Street, 

Boston,  Dec.  11,  1884. 
Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee  : 

Dear  Cousin, —  It  was  my  intention  to  be  present  this  evening 
in  response  to  your  polite  family  invitation  to  attend  the  anni- 
versary at  Harrison  Square,  and  join  with  the  many  others  who 
are  doubtless  at  this  moment  offering  you  their  congratulations 
and  best  wishes ;  but,  business  having  detained  me  until  it  was  too 
late,  I  can  but  offer  as  a  substitute  a  few  words  in  writing. 

An  anniversary  of  one's  work  in  the  ministry  must  become 
like  a  birthday, —  the  achievement  of  another  round  in  the  ladder 
of  life,  a  resting-place  for  the  moment,  while  one  looks  back 
over  the  years  that  have  passed  and  forward  with  that  feeling 
that  was  so  well  expressed  by  Milton, — 

"  What  in  me  is  dark  illumine." 

Mother  and  father  join  me  in  expressing  their  congratulations 
and  best  wishes.  Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)     Samuel  B.  Doggett. 

30  Pratt  Street,  Providence,  R.I., 

Dec.  8,  1884. 

My  dear  Mr.  Bradlee, —  I  hope  to  attend  the  celebration  of 
the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  your  ordination  on  Thursday  evening 
next. 

Please  accept  my  congratulations  upon  having  completed  this 
well-rounded  period  of  ministerial  labor. 

How  many  have  been  cheered,  encouraged,  and  comforted  in 
the  hundreds  of -homes  where  you  have  been  so  closely  associated 
with  those  who  have  called  upon  you  to  share  their  joys  and 
sorrows  for  a  score  and  a  half  of  years ! 

It  is  right  that  I  should  feel  a  special  interest  in  the  approach- 
ing celebration. 

For  more  than  half  the  time  covered  by  your  ministry  I  have 
been  a  member  of  that  parish  —  that  is  so  much  wider  than  the 
bounds  of  any  one  society  —  which  claims  you  as  its  minister. 


98  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,   D.D. 

You  have  great  reason  to  rejoice  in  your  influence  over  a 
number  of  young  men,  of  whom  I  count  myself  fortunate  to  be 
one. 

Long  may  you  live  to  preach  that  blessed  religion  of  our 
Master,  which  is  broader  than  all  sects  and  able  to  satisfy  the 
human  need  !  Yours  very  truly, . 

(Signed)        Alfred  Manchester. 

The  following  verse  from  a  hymn  written  by  Miss 
Sophia  B.  Ricord,  of  Newark,  N.J.,  for  use  at  the 
celebration,  expresses  the  spirit  in  which  all  present 
heartily  joined  :  — 

Bless  now  thy  servant,  Lord, 
On  him  thy  grace  be  poured, 

For  him  we  pray ! 
Make  thou  his  light  to  shine 
Bright  in  this  house  of  thine  ! 
May  he  our  hearts  incline 

In  thy  good  way! 

On  Monday,  May  10,  1886,  Mr.  Bradlee  made  the 
following  note :  "  I  am  obliged  now  on  account  of 
limited  strength  and  by  reason  of  the  great  caution 
that  necessarily  inheres  to  age  to  refuse  a  great  many 
outside  calls.  For  twenty-five  years  or  more  I  have 
said  yes  to  almost  every  call,  using  myself  up  for 
others;  but  now  I  have  made  a  new  rule."  What  the 
rule  was  cannot  be  told  ;  but,  if  it  was  designed  to  cur- 
tail his  labors  in  behalf  of  others,  his  most  intimate 
friends  know  that  it  was  persistently  disregarded  as 
long  as  he  lived. 

It  was  evident  during  1886  and  1887  that  Mr. 
Bradlee  would  soon  be  obliged  to  change  his  sphere  of 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  99 

labor,  as  the  work  at  Harrison  Square  had  increased 
through  prosperity  until  it  was  more  than  he  could  do 
in  a  manner  that  his  conscience  would  approve ;  and 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1887,  he  wrote  the  following 
letter :  — 

To  the  Committee  of  the  Harrison  Square 
Church : 
Gentlemen, —  It  is  now  over  eleven  years  since  I 
have  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  Harrison  Square 
Church, —  eleven  happy,  holy,  and  beautiful  years, 
years  almost  without  a  cloud, —  when  I  have  had  the 
fellowship  and  friendship  of  noble  men,  women,  and 
children,  in  whose  joys  and  sorrows  I  have  shared  and 
whose  fidelity  I  shall  never  forget ;  but  the  time  has 
come  when  I  think,  for  the  best  growth  of  the  parish 
and  for  my  own  health  and  strength,  I  must  ask  for 
a  relief  from  my  cares,  and  beg  of  you  to  find  a  young 
man  for  my  associate,  who,  while  bearing  the  name  of 
"junior  pastor,"  shall  as  to  all  responsibility  have  full 
charge  of  the  society.  And,  in  order  to  aid  you  in 
bringing  about  this  movement,  I  propose  to  surrender 
all  financial  claims  after  June  1,  1887,  and  wish  then  to 
leave  in  your  hands  the  care  of  the  pulpit  preaching 
after  *that  time  only  on  such  Sundays  as  you  or  my 
associate  may  need  "labors  of  love,"  but  feeling  that  I 
have  not  wholly  dissevered  myself  from  the  church, 
although  I  would  wish  you  always  to  understand,  if  at 
any  time  my  position  as  senior  pastor  should  bring 
embarrassment  to  you  or  to  my  associate,  notice  to 
that  effect  will  bring  a  full  resignation  of  my  position. 


100  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

I   would   like   to   meet  the   committee   next    Sunday, 
directly  after  the  services. 

Most  cordially, 

Caleb  D.  Bradlee. 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend  he  wrote  :  — 

"  For  the  last  two  years  I  have  felt  more  and  more 
prostrated,  and  more  and  more  unable  to  do  the  work 
required  of  me,  and  I  have  felt  also  that  the  addition  of 
a  young  man  to  the  pulpit  would  be  good  for  the  young 
people,  and  add  a  fresh  life  to  the  society ;  and  so, 
thoughtfully  and  prayerfully,  I  have  taken  the  step 
that  now  seems  to  me  important  for  my  own  health 
and  for  the  best  growth  of  the  society." 

Mr.  Augustus  M.  Lord,  of  Cambridge  Divinity 
School,  was  asked  to  become  associate  pastor ;  but  he 
finally  decided  not  to  accept  the  call. 

Mr.  Bradlee  writes  as  follows  :  — 

"Friday,  May  27,  1887,  the  members  of  the  Harri- 
son Square  Society  and  over  ten  ministers  gave  me  a 
reception  in  the  vestry  of  the  church  from  7.30  to  8.30, 
as  a  sort  of  recognition  of  the  past,  as  a  kind  of  bene- 
diction for  the  present,  and  as  a  holy  inauguration  of 
my  new  position  that  is  to  be  assumed  June  1  as 
senior  pastor  of  the  church." 

Many  letters  were  received  from  members  of  the  so- 
ciety, expressing  great  affection  and  appreciation  re- 
garding the  life  and  work  of  Mr.  Bradlee  in  the  eleven 
years  of  his  pastorate  in  this  church. 

The  four  years  that  follow,  during  which  he  held 
the  position  of  senior  pastor  of  the  Harrison  Square 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  IOI 

Church,  were  busy  years,  although  he  was  greatly  re- 
lieved by  his  freedom  from  the  routine  work  of  a  parish 
minister.  He  was  active,  however,*^with  tongue  and 
pen,  being  heard  in  many  pulpits ;  always  ready,  when 
health  and  strength  allowed,  to  give  labors  of  love  to 
ministers  or  to  feeble  parishes. 

In  September,  1887,  the  Rev.  W.  R.  Lord,  of  Wol- 
laston,  Mass.,  was  called  to  be  associate  pastor  of  the 
Harrison  Square  Church.  On  the^cjth  of  October  a 
reception  was  given  to  Rev.  Mr.  Lord,  at  which  Mr. 
Bradlee  was  present. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Bradlee  made  the  acquaintance 
of  the  Rev.  P.  M.  Macdonald,  pastor  of  the  St.  Andrew's 
Presbyterian  Church.  This  church  purchased  of  Mr. 
Bradlee  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Church 
of  the  Redeemer  on  Concord  Street;  and,  upon  their 
taking  possession  of  it,  Mr.  Bradlee  took  part  in  the 
dedication,  reading  two  hymns,  making  an  address,  and 
pronouncing  the  benediction.  One  of  the  hymns  was 
written  by  him  for  the  occasion. 

His  friendship  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  (afterward  "Dr.") 
Macdonald  was  very  intimate  up  to  the' time  of  Dr.  Mac- 
donald's  death  in  1894.  He  frequently  preached  in  St. 
Andrew's  Church,  where  he  was  warmly  welcomed. 

Out*  of  this  friendship  came  a  pleasant  recognition  of 
Mr.  Bradlee's  attainments.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1888, 
he  received  the  following  letter  :  — 

Galesville,  Wis.,  June  26,  1888. 
Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  D.D. : 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother, —  I  am  directed  by  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  Galesville  University,  an  institution  chartered  by  the 


102  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

legislature  of  Wisconsin  and  invested  with  power  to  confer  liter- 
ary titles  and  degrees,  that,  upon  ample  evidence  of  your  eminent 
attainments  and  standing  in  literature  and  theological  learning, 
they  did,  in  their  meeting  held  June  21,  1888,  confer  upon  you 
the  title  of  Doctor  in  Divinity. 

Wishing  you,  personally,  for  myself,  dear  sir,  enjoyment  of  this 
rank,  with  all  blessings,  I  am,  most  truly, 

Yours  in  joint  labors, 

J.  Irwin  Smith, 
President  of  Galesville  University. 

Dr.  Bradlee  was  pleased  to  be  thus  cordially  recog- 
nized by  those  outside  of  his  own  denomination,  as  he 
was  always  pleased  to  witness  exchange  of  courtesies 
between  those  of  varying  theological  opinions.  Gales- 
ville University  is  a  Presbyterian  seat  of  learning. 
Again  the  same  university  complimented  Dr.  Bradlee 
when,  in  1889,  on  the  27th  of  June,  it  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  Ph.D. 

Sincere  expressions  of  congratulation  from  many 
friends  were  received  in  consequence  of  the  conferring 
of  these  degrees  upon  one  for  whom  they  had  so  much 
respect  and  love. 

Sept.  19,  1888,  Dr.  Bradlee  published  a  volume  of 
sermons,  which  he  characteristically  called  "  Sermons 
for  All  Sects."  There  were  twenty-eight  of  these 
sermons,  which  were  well  received  by  the  public.  A 
few  notices  received  are  appended  :  — 

[From  the  Congregatiomilist.\ 
A  volume  of  eight-and-twenty  discourses  upon  winsome   and 
practical  themes,  which  are  fertile  with  devout  suggestions,  and 
breathe   a   spirit  of  gentleness,  of   earnest  desire  for  growth  in 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  I  03 

goodness,  and  of  sanctified  common  sense,  which  will  fit  them  for 
the  approval  of  "  all  sects." 

[From  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips  Brooks.] 
It  must  have  been  good  to  preach  them.     It  is  very  good  to 
read  them,  and  I  am  sure  that  many  people  will  be  as  grateful 
as  I  am. 

[From  the  Rev.  Augustus  Woodbury,  D.D.] 
I  have  looked  into  the  sermons,  and  have   been   moved    and 
touched  by  the  spirit  that  breathes  through  them, —  a  spirit,  as  it 
seems  to  me,  of  deep  earnestness  and  sincere  consecration. 

[From  the  Rev.  A.  P.  Putnam,  D.D.] 
Full  of  earnest  Christian  faith  and  piety. 

[From  the  Rev.  George  A.  Gordon.] 
Wholesome  thoughts  forcibly  and  earnestly  expressed. 

[From  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson.] 

The  titles  of  the  sermons  are  very  taking ;  and  one  finds,  as  he 
reads,  that  they  are  real  titles,  describing  accurately  the  great  and 
practical  Christian  principles  and  duties  enforced  in  the  book. 

Every  sentence  is  notable  for  its  illumination  of  some  great 
principle,  for  its  felicity  of  style ;  and,  indeed,  there  is  marked 
literary  style  in  the  book,  the  author's  own  to  be  recognized 
anywhere, —  sentences  with  rich  and  accurate  vocabulary,  yet 
simple,  and  clear-as  mountain  water. 

[From  Dr.  J.  H.  Allen.] 
I  find  the  book  very  charming, —  a  delightful  flowering  out  of 
the  sweet  and  grave  spirit  that  was  in  the  elder  Unitarianism,  a 
delightful  relief  to  the  overstrained,  critical,  and  scientific  self- 
consciousness  that  so  often  prevails  in  the  best  of  our  modern 
sermonizing. 


104  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1888,  Dr.  Bradlee  was 
sadly  shocked  by  the  announcement  of  the  sudden 
death  of  his  brother,  Nathaniel  J.  Bradlee,  who  expired 
almost  instantly,  while  near  Shirley,  Mass.,  in  a  railroad 
train.  His  friend,  Mr.  Suter,  was  with  him,  and 
returned  at  once  to  Boston  with  the  body.  Dr. 
Bradlee  was  called  upon  to  break  the  sad  news  to  his 
brother's  family. 

Of  the  event  Dr.  Bradlee  writes  :  "  All  the  city  was 
startled  by  the  news ;  and  the  papers  of  the  evening 
had  very  long  notices  of  Nathaniel,  of  his  useful  and 
honorable  life,  and  spoke  of  the  great  loss  his  departure 
would  bring  to  everybody. 

"  How  pleased  father  and  mother  must  be  to  see  that 
Nathaniel  has  left  such  an  honorable  record  !  Mother's 
rule  for  the  boys  used  to  be  :  '  Whatever  else  you  do,  be 
good.  Goodness  first,'  she  said,  '  then  let  greatness 
come,  if  it  will ;  but,  if  it  does  not  come,  no  matter.' 
I  am  the  last  child  now  left  this  side  of  the  river, — 
the  last  and  youngest  child  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Williams)  Bradlee." 

The  following  poem  expresses  his  feeling  at  this 
time :  — 

I    AM    LEFT    ALONE. 

Alone  I  am,  alone ;  the  last 
Of  those  I  knew  in  years  long  past, 
In  the  old  home  where  I  had  birth. 
Ah !  I  alone  am  still  on  earth. 

Father  and  mother,  brothers  dear, 
Sisters  and  friends,  no  longer  here ! 
The  old  house  gone,  and  I  still  live. 
Patience  and  faith,  O  Father,  give. 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  105 

Oh,  not  alone !     I  have  my  God, 
His  gracious  help,  his  staff  and  rod  ; 
The  Saviour  still  is  close  at  hand, 
And  angels  bright,  a  happy  band. 

Oh,  not  alone  !     Another  home 

In  holy  love  to  me  has  come ; 

And  wife  and  child  give  me  their  care, 

And  daily  blessings  with  me  share. 

Oh,  not  alone  !     A  home  above, 
A  home  below,  both  full  of  love, 
To  me  are  given ;  and  all  is  right, 
My  heart  is  calm,  my  years  are  bright. 

April  21,  1890,  Dr.  Bradlee  sent  his  resignation  to 
the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  Harrison  Square 
Church,  to  take  effect  June  I,  1890,  after  eleven  years' 
service  as  pastor  and  three  additional  years  as  senior 
pastor. 

Mr.  George  W.  Fox,  assistant  secretary  of  the 
American  Unitarian  Association,  was  asked  to  make 
the  proper  change  in  the  Unitarian  Year  Book ;  and 
in  a  letter  he  says  :  — 

I  shall  obey  your  request,  and  erase  your  name  from  the  place 
of  senior  pastor  at  Harrison  Square  with  sincerest  regret,  not 
only  a's  an  officer  of  the  American  Unitarian  Association  and  on 
personal  grounds,  but  as  a  citizen  of  Dorchester. 

In  my  latter  capacity  I  have  seen  with  the  greatest  satisfaction 
your  successful  labors,  by  which  a  society  sadly  weakened  was 
brought  into  a  condition  of  vigor  and  usefulness. 

And  you  are  not  only  to  have  credit  for  all  this,  but  also  for 
introducing  into  your  place,  when  you  felt  that  you  must  relin- 
quish active  work,  a  successor  admirably  fitted  to  carry  on  what 
you  had  so  well  begun. 


106  IN    MEMORIAM  .'    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

In  the  Evening  Traveller  of  April  29,  1890,  it  was 
said :  — 

Rev.  Dr.  Bradlee  has  resigned  the  office  of  senior  pastor  of 
the  Unitarian  church  at  Harrison  Square.  For  the  long  period 
of  fourteen  years  he  has  been  connected  with  this  society.  Dur- 
ing eleven  of  the  fourteen  years  he  was  pastor,  and  during  the 
remaining  three  senior  pastor.  His  ministration  has  been 
crowned  with  success,  and  he  retires  followed  by  the  love  and  the 
highest  respect  of  his  parishioners  and  of  the  community  in 
general. 

The  committee  acted  upon  the  resignation  May  5, 
1890.  They  accepted  it,  and  in  the  letter  announcing 
the  acceptance  said  :  — 

In  accepting  the  same,  we  beg  to  express  to  you  our  profound 
and  lasting  appreciation  of  the  faithfulness  and  zeal  with  which 
you  have  performed  the  duties  of  your  hign  calling. 

We  desire,  especially,  to  thank  you  in  the  name  of  all  who 
came  under  your  ministry  for  the  affectionate  relations  which  you 
so  constantly  maintained,  particularly  with  those  who  in  any  way 
needed  your  sympathy. 

And,  personally,  we  desire  to  convey  to  you  our  most  hearty 
and  sincere  hope  that  your  remaining  years  and  those  of  your 
family  may  be  even  more  blessed  than  the  years  that  are  past. 

The  church  passed  the  following  resolution  :  — 

Whereas  The  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  has  been  connected 
with  this  church  for  the  past  fourteen  years,  and  has  labored  faith- 
fully and  earnestly  for  the  good  of  the  church  and  the  community 
in  which  it  stands, — 

Resolved,  That  the  church,  accepting  Mr.  Bradlee's  resigna- 
tion as  senior  pastor,  does  so  with  a  full  appreciation  of  his  worth 
and  character,  and  desires  to  put  upon  record  its  testimony  to 
his  fidelity  and  zeal  as  a  Christian  pastor. 


HARRISON    SQUARE.  107 

The  Unitarian  for  June,  1890,  had  the  following 
paragraph  :  — 

The  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Caleb  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  as  senior 
pastor  of  the  Harrison  Square  Unitarian  Church  takes  effect 
June  1.  Both  the  letters  from  the  Prudential  Committee  and  the 
resolution  passed  by  the  church  upon  accepting  his  resignation 
express  most  cordial  appreciation  of  Mr.  Bradlee's  worth,  char- 
acter, fidelity,  and  zeal,  and  their  gratitude  for  the  kindly  relations 
he  had  always  maintained  with  all  who  came  under  his  ministry. 

The  end  of  a  long  settlement  had  come.  He  had  put 
much  time,  strength,  and  money  into  the  church  enter- 
prise. He  was  content  to  have  done  this,  since  the 
results  were  such  as  to  amply  repay  him  for  all  that  he 
had  done.  The  years  that  he  might  have  spent  in 
semi-retirement,  busy  about  personal  affairs,  had  been 
toilsome  years  for  the  sake  of  others ;  and  he  was  satis- 
fied thus  to  have  given  expression  to  his  self-sacrificing 
disposition  and  benevolent  spirit.  No  man  was  ever 
happier  than  he  in  serving  his  fellow-men. 

In  1894,  on  the  8th  of  February,  he  delivered  a  brief 
address  at  the  dedication  of  Christ  Church,  Dorchester, 
a  new  stone  structure  which  had  replaced  the  wooden 
church  where  he  had  spent  so  many  happy  Sundays. 


VII. 
NORFOLK  STREET  CHURCH. 

June  i,  1890 — June  i,  1892. 


VII. 

NORFOLK  STREET  CHURCH. 

June  i,  1890 — June  i,  1892. 

THE  Christian  Register  of  June  5,  1890,  speaking 
of  Dr.  Bradlee's  resignation  at  Harrison  Square, 
says  :  — 

His  active  work  does  not  cease,  however,  with  this  resigna- 
tion. On  June  1,  the  very  day  his  resignation  took  effect,  Dr. 
Bradlee  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the  Norfolk  Uni- 
tarian Church.  The  invitation  to  this  new  field  of  labor  was  so 
urgent  and  flattering  that,  although  Dr.  Bradlee  had  almost  retired 
from  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  he  could  not  bring  himself 
to  decline  it.  No  doubt  the  Norfolk  Street  Church  will  prosper 
under  his  care  as  did  the  church  at  Harrison  Square. 

In  the  spring  of  1890  Dr.  Bradlee  generously  offered 
to  this  new  church  that  had  been  formed  in  Dorches- 
ter his  services  for  one  year  as  pastor.  The  society 
was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1889,  and  had  been  de- 
pendent since  its  formation  upon  "labors  of  love"  from 
different  ministers.  Dr.  Bradlee  had  preached  several 
times, —  always  to  a  large  number, —  and  had  been 
asked  by  the  society  to  officiate  at  its  Easter  chris- 
tening. The  kind  offer  was  gladly  and  gratefully  ac- 
cepted. 

This  was  the  eleventh  period  of  his  ministry. 


112  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  work  at  the  Norfolk  Street  Church  was  all  the 
more  pleasant  to  Dr.  Bradlee  because  it  was  begun  in 
the  parlor  of  one  who  had  known  him  in  Hollis  Street 
Church  when  he  was  a  very  young  man. 

It  was  always  thus  that  the  members  of  his  old 
parishes  followed  him  to  the  new  field. 

The  chairman  of  the  Parish  Committee  was  one  of 
his  Church  of  the  Redeemer  parishioners,  Mr.  Horace 
S.  Fowle.  He  wrote  to  Dr.  Bradlee  May  10,  1890,  ac- 
cepting his  offer  to  take  charge  of  the  new  church.  In 
closing  his  letter,  he  said  :  — 

Let  this  letter  serve  as  a  cordial,  loving,  and  thankful  wel- 
come from  us ;  and  may  God  grant  that  together  we  shall  be  in- 
strumental in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  in- 
creasing the  religious  and  moral  condition  of  the  neighborhood. 

In  his  reply  Dr.  Bradlee  said :  — 

"  I  thank  you,  and  all  associated  with  you,  for  your 
hearty  welcome  and  benediction ;  and  I  trust  that  our 
temporary  fellowship  may  result  in  the  good  of  the 
society  that  we  represent." 

Rev.  W.  I.  Lawrance,  from  whose  church  some  of 
the  Norfolk  Church  families  came,  wrote  a  very  cordial 
letter  to  Dr.  Bradlee.     Among  other  things  he  said:  — 

I  am  glad  you  are  to  be  with  our  Norfolk  friends.  It  will 
be  a  great  help  to  them.  They  are  full  of  courage,  and  need  to 
have  some  one  to  guide  their  energies.  It  will  be  far  better  than 
to  go  on  as  they  have.  The  more  they  catch  of  your  spirit,  too, 
and  the  more  they  profit  by  your  counsels,  the  better  it  will  be  for 
them.  I  think  they  did  just  right,  also,  in  making  you  pastor  in- 
stead of  regular  supply.  I  believe  much  in  the  pastoral  relation. 
Without  it  preaching,  however  good,  will  hardly  build  up  a 
church. 


NORFOLK  STREET  CHURCH.  II 3 

At  the  first  service  as  pastor  of  the  Norfolk  Church 
he  said  :  "  Christian  friends,  to-day  for  the  first  time  I 
speak  to  you  as  your  pastor.  We  are  here  to  do  the 
Master's  work  in  the  Master's  spirit,  each  one  of  us  a 
priest,  hoping  to  build  up  amongst  ourselves,  and  in 
this  neighborhood,  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  praying 
God  to  give  us  the  power  to  light  up  a  flame  in  this 
part  of  Dorchester  that  shall  never  die  out. 

"  But  in  order  to  accomplish  successfully  our  work, 
whilst  we  hold  tightly  the  Father's  hand  and  follow 
closely  the  Saviour's  precepts,  we  must  also  constantly 
watch  our  manners,  so  that  they  shall  always  be  ge- 
nial, sweet,  sacred,  impressive,  and  winning ;  we  must 
watch  our  speech,  too,  that  it  shall  be  gentle,  touching, 
searching,  and  full  of  power ;  we  must  watch  our  deeds, 
so  that  they  shall  be  pure,  noble,  generous,  and  really 
beautiful  and  grand  ;  and  we  must  also  remember  that 
Almighty  God  and  the  blessed  Redeemer  and  the  holy 
angels  are  constantly  watching  us,  and  urging  us  to  be 
faithful  as  long  as  the  breath  of  life  shall  last.  And 
the  motto  on  our  spiritual  banner  must  always  be 
1  Soldiers  of  the  Cross.'  " 

In  October,  1890,  one  of  his  parishioners  wrote  to 
him  :  — 

The*  rapidly  growing  success  of  this  new  church  has  been  a 
constant  joy  to  us  all ;  and  we  feel  more  than  repaid  for  what  did 
not  seem  to  us  trouble,  considering  the  great  good  we  looked 
forward  to.  We  are  very  happy  in  our  dear  Christian  pastor,  our 
enthusiastic  people,  our  bright,  hopeful  Sunday-school,  and  our 
little  church  home. 

On  Oct.  30,  1890,  one  year  and  sixteen  days  after 
the   society's  organization,  a   newly   built   chapel  was 


114  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

dedicated.  At  the  annual  church  meeting  in  the 
spring  of  1891  there  were  read  warm  words  of  appreci- 
ation of  Dr.  Bradlee's  great  assistance  to  the  church, 
and  a  unanimous  request  was  passed  for  a  continuation 
of  the  pastor's  services  during  another  year.  The 
request  was  kindly  granted  by  Dr.  Bradlee.  The 
church,  not  yet  two  years  old,  was  almost  entirely  free 
from  debt,  and  had  an  average  of  one  hundred  at  the 
Sunday  morning  service.  The  young  people  of  the 
society  formed  a  club  for  religious,  intellectual,  and 
social  purposes,  and,  in  gratitude  to  their  pastor, 
named  it  the  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  Club. 

Hardly  enough  can  be  said  of  Dr.  Bradlee's  great 
kindness  and  helpfulness  to  the  new  and  struggling 
church.  With  loyal  men  and  women  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  the  church,  it  still  needed  the  strong  voice  in 
the  pulpit  and  the  experienced  hand  at  the  helm.  Dr. 
Bradlee's  generous  offer  gave  both,  and  the  marvel- 
lous growth  of  the  society  showed  that  his  labor  was 
appreciated.  He  was  often  present  at  the  Sunday- 
school  service,  and  addressed  the  scholars, —  he  had 
the  rare  gift  of  speaking  to  children ;  and  his  cordial 
calls  were  anticipated  by  all  in  the  church. 

The  following  letter  was  much  prized  by  Dr.  Bradlee, 
and  may  be  inserted  here  as  showing  his  kindly  rela- 
tions with  men  of  other  forms  of  faith  :  — 

233  Clarendon  Street,  Boston, 

May  4,  1 891. 

Dear  Dr.  Bradlee, —  I  rejoice  in  your  cordial  letter.     We  are 

all  working  together;  and,  if  the  new  position  in  which  I  am  to  be 

placed  shall  give  me  any  new  opportunity  to  do  any  bit  of  our 


NORFOLK    STREET    CHURCH.  115 

common  work  more  faithfully,  I  shall  rejoice.  To  know  that  you 
care  for  what  concerns  me  and  my  work  gives  me  much  joy.  I 
am,  with  all  good  wishes, 

Faithfully  your  friend, 

Phillips  Brooks. 

June  11,   1891,  Dr.  Bradlee    received   the   following 

letter:  — 

Tufts  College,  June  10,  1891. 

My  dear  Sir, —  It  willl  afford  me  pleasure  to  have  you  attend 
our  Commencement  on  the  17th  inst.  It  may  not  be  improper 
for  me,  and  I  trust  it  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  you,  to  inform 
you  that  the  authorities  of  the  college  have  decided  to  confer 
upon  you  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  at  the  approaching 
Commencement.  Very  truly  yours, 

E.  H.  Capen. 

Dr.  Bradlee  sent  his  regrets  that  the  uncertain  state 
of  his  health  made  it  doubtful  if  he  would  be  able  to 
accept  Dr.  Capen's  kind  invitation,  and  gave  expression 
to  his  appreciation  of  the  honor  to  be  bestowed  and  his 
pleasure  in  anticipation  of  becoming  an  adopted  son  of 
Tufts  College. 

The  degree  was  conferred  June  17,  1891  ;  and  he  was 
now  A.B.  and  A.M.  (Harvard),  D.D.  and  Ph.D. 
(Galesville),  D.D.  (Tufts). 

Late  in  1891  Dr.  Bradlee  told  the  committee  of  the 
Norfolk  Church  that  he  must  retire  from  the  charge  of 
the  church  at  the  close  of  the  second  year  of  his 
service  as  pastor,  and  asked  them  to  take  charge  of  the 
last  two  Sundays  in  each  month  after  Jan.  1,  1892,  in 
order  that  they  might  hear  candidates  for  the  pulpit 
and  be  ready  to  go  on  with  a  new  minister  in  the  fall 
of  1892. 


Il6  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  society  had  been  blessed  with  a  remarkable 
growth.  New  families  were  coming  in ;  and  Dr.  Brad- 
lee  thought  that  the  next  step  in  the  line  of  progress 
was  to  secure  the  services  of  a  young  man  who  would 
live  near  the  church,  and  devote  his  whole  time  to  its 
interests.  There  was  need  of  more  work  during  the 
week  than  he  felt  able  to  do.  He  could  not  be  satis- 
fied simply  to  preach  on  Sunday  and  have  a  class  in 
Sunday-school :  his  ideal  of  the  ministry  demanded  a 
close  relation  between  pastor  and  people,  which  could 
be  maintained  only  by  visiting  from  house  to  house. 

In  his  letter  to  the  committee  he  says,  "  I  need  not 
tell  the  committee  nor  the  society  that  which  all  so  well 
know, —  how  much  I  have  enjoyed  their  fellowship  and 
friendship,  and  how  the  remembrance  of  my  sacred  re- 
lationship will  always  be  a  benediction." 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  close  of  the  pastorate, 
there  were  many  expressions  of  regret  on  the  part  of 
those  who  had  become  very  closely  attached  to  Dr. 
Bradlee. 

One  writes :  — 

It  was  a  great  grief  to  me,  while  listening  to  your  noble  words 
on  Sunday,  to  think  I  should  hear  that  voice  no  more  from  that 
pulpit ;  but,  indeed,  it  is  a  comfort  to  be  assured  of  your  contin- 
ued friendship  and  regard,  and,  though  we  may  meet  you  less  fre- 
quently than  formerly,  the  memory  of  your  kindly  interest  in  us 
on  all  occasions  will  always  be  a  blessing  to  us.  We  thank  you 
for  the  cordial  invitation  to  visit  your  home,  and  we  shall  be  glad 
to  avail  ourselves  of  it  when  cares  and  duties  permit.  We  shall 
be  glad  also  to  welcome  you  and  those  dear  to  you  at  our  home 
at  any  time,  and  hope  we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  doing  so 
many  times. 


NORFOLK  STREET  CHURCH.  117 

Another  says  :  — 

We  are  happy  in  the  thought  that  you  were  the  first  to  greet  us 
when  we  entered  the  Norfolk  Unitarian  Church  as  strangers.  We 
were  in  want  of  sympathy  and  encouragement,  and  you  seemed  to 
answer  to  all  our  needs.  We  feel  very  strongly  in  regard  to  your 
resignation. 

Another  writes :  — 

Again  let  me  personally  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done  for 
my  good  and  the  good  of  our  church. 

The  Christian  Register  contained  the  following 
notice  March   10,   1892:  — 

Dorchester  Norfolk  Church. —  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  who 
has  been  pastor  of  the  Norfolk  Unitarian  Church  since  its  forma- 
tion some  two  years  ago,  resigned  last  Sunday. 

He  took  charge  of  this  movement  when  worship  was  carried  on 
in  a  private  house,  and  has  brought  it  to  its  present  flourishing 
condition.  He  leaves  to  his  successor  a  large  congregation,  a 
well-attended  Sunday-school,  and  a  beautiful  and  commodious 
church  edifice.  The  growth  of  this  society  under  Dr.  Bradlee's 
care  has  been  remarkable,  and  deep  sorrow  was  expressed  by  the 
people  at  his  resignation.  He  leaves  the  pulpit  because  he  feels 
that  he  has  accomplished  all  he  hoped  for  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  enterprise, —  made  it  self-sustaining  and  ready  for  the 
leadership  of  a  younger  man.  Dr.  Bradlee's  mission  seems  to  be 
this, — "of  encouraging  new  movements  until  strong  enough  to 
build  a  church  and  secure  a  resident  pastor.  What  he  has  done 
in  this  direction  is  well  known  to  the  Unitarians  of  Boston.  He 
will  now  continue  the  literary  and  occasional  pastoral  work  to 
which  he  has  always  devoted  himself  between  pastorates. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1892,  the  Norfolk  Church  gave 
a  reception  to  Dr.  Bradlee,  and  invited  the  members  of 


Il8  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

the  Boston  Association,  of  which  he  was  then  Moder- 
ator, to  be  present.  There  were  many  present.  At 
about  8  p.m.  the  visitors  entered  the  chapel,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  C.  D.  Bradlee, 
Miss  Eliza  W.  Bradlee,  and  Samuel  B.  Doggett,  Esq. 

The  chapel  was  beautifully  adorned  with  flowers, 
and  seemed  delightfully  homelike. 

At  about  nine  o'clock  Dr.  Bradlee  was  presented 
with  a  series  of  resolutions  in  the  form  of  a  diploma. 
In  presenting  the  gift,  allusion  was  made  to  the  esteem 
and  gratitude  felt  by  all  toward  Dr.  Bradlee.  One  of 
the  ladies  of  the  society  presented,  in  behalf  of  the 
Women's  Aid  Association,  a  beautiful  basket  of 
flowers,  and  expressed,  in  a  very  graceful  and  happy 
manner,  the  strong  affection  felt  by  the  ladies  for  the 
retiring  pastor. 

Dr.  Bradlee  responded  earnestly  and  affectionately 
to  the  tributes  of  love.  Letters  were  read  from  absent 
friends.  All  present  enjoyed  a  fine  supper,  and  at  10 
p.m.  the  festivities  were  ended.  The  pastorate  of  the 
Norfolk  Church  was  finished. 


VIII. 


PERIOD    OF    REST  AND    LONGWOOD. 


June   i,   1892— May  i,  1897. 


VIII. 
PERIOD    OF    REST  AND    LONGWOOD. 

June  i,  1892  —  May  i,  1897. 

THE  twelfth  period  of  Dr.  Bradlee's  ministry  was 
spent  in  semi-retirement  from  June  1,  1892- 
April  9,  1893.  Learning  of  his  success  at  Norfolk 
Church,  many  new  or  feeble  parishes  were  anxious  to 
secure  Dr.  Bradlee's  services.  His  friend  of  many 
years,  Edward  Everett  Hale,  D.D.,  wanted  him  to  do 
for  a  new  church  at  Ashmont  what  he  had  done  at 
Norfolk  Church.  But  he  felt  the  need  of  rest  for  a 
time  from  the  exacting  duties  of  a  regular  pastorate, 
and  so  declined  calls  for  more  than  a  Sunday  or  two 
in  a  place. 

For  nearly  a  year  he  pursued  this  course,  spending 
much  time  in  the  preparation  of  a  second  volume  of 
sermons,  which  he  was  to  publish  in  December,  1893. 

He  sometimes  thought  that  his  work  as  pastor  of  a 
church  was  at  an  end,  and  expected  to  spend  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life  quietly  in  his  study  for  the 
most  part. 

Little  did  he  think  that  the  crowning  work  of  his 
life  lay  before  him ;  that  the  few  brief  years  of  his 
earthly  career  which  remained  were  to  be  those  which 
should  best  show  his  worth  and  power  as  a  preacher 
and  organizer ! 


122  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

In  a  note-book  we  find  the  following  :  — 

"Monday  p.m.,  April  3,  1893,  I  received  an  invita- 
tion to  take  temporary  charge  of  Christ's  Church, 
Longwood.  The  service  is  to  commence  next  Sunday, 
April  9,  1893.  The  liturgy  of  the  church  has  to  be 
used,  although  I  am  allowed  to  cut  a  part  of  the  service 
short ;  but  I  am  not  allowed  to  introduce  anything  into 
the  service." 

The  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson,  Superintendent  of  Churches 
for  New  England  of  the  American  Unitarian  Associa- 
tion, had  for  a  long  time  wished  to  have  this  church 
open  for  services,  and  at  last  he  saw  a  possibility  of 
accomplishing  this  purpose.  At  his  solicitation,  Dr. 
Bradlee  was  induced  to  consent  to  come  out  from 
semi-retirement  to  the  world  of  public  service. 

Charles  W.  Cotting,  Esq.,  was  the  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  property  of  Christ's  Church. 
He  was  a  lifelong  friend  of  Dr.  Bradlee,  and  he  was 
consulted  in  regard  to  the  reopening  of  the  church. 

He  had  such  confidence  in  Dr.  Bradlee  that,  when 
he  heard  of  the  possibility  of  his  taking  charge  of  the 
services  in  the  church,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  advise 
the  commencement  of  a  work  which  proved  to  be  of 
great  importance. 

Having  gained  permission  to  use  the  church  edifice, 
some  of  those  most  interested  in  the  new  movement 
sent  the  following  letter  to  Dr.  Bradlee  :  — 

To  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.: 

Dear  Sir, —  We,  the  undersigned,  residents  of  Brookline,  re- 
spectfully and  cordially  invite  you   to  take  charge  of  religious 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 23 

services  which  are   to   be  held  in   Christ's   Church,   Longwood, 
Sunday  mornings  during  the  present  season. 

William  Stearns. 

John  H.  Gibbs. 

Henry  R.  Hallett. 

A  circular  letter  was  sent  to  the  families  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  church,  inviting  them  to  come  to  these  ser- 
vices. 

Dr.  Bradlee  was  well  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
the  church  at  Longwood.  It  was  built  in  the  time  of 
his  early  ministry  by  Mr.  David  Sears,  who  had  dreams 
of  church  unity,  and  thought  he  had  devised  a  ritual  in 
the  use  of  which  all  Christians  would  at  once  unite. 
The  use  of  this  ritual  —  or  the  use  of  no  other  service 
—  was  required;  and  the  church,  a  noble  edifice,  beau- 
tifully located,  was  thrown  open.  The  ritual  became 
a  stumbling-block  to  many.  It  was  not  wholly  accept- 
able to  those  of  any  sect ;  and,  after  an  experiment 
which  lasted  a  few  years,  the  church  was  closed.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard  had  charge  of  the  church  in  1862, 
and  served  two  years. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  A.  Miles  served  five  years. 
The  Rev.  S.  B.  Cruft  served  one  year. 

Dr.  Bradlee  considered  the  matter  very  carefully. 
Among  others  whom  he  consulted  was  Dr.  E.  E.  Hale, 
who  wrote :  — 

When  I  heard  that  this  arrangement  was  possible,  I  was  de- 
lighted ;  and  I  am  most  glad  that  it  is  to  be  carried  out.  I  am 
quite  sure  that  in  your  hands  it  will  succeed,  though  I  see  the 
difficulties.  Let  me  help  in  any  way  I  can,  and  be  sure  of  my 
sympathy  and  my  prayers. 


124  IN    ME.MORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

To  the  committee  Dr.  Bradlee  wrote  :  — 

"  I  have  received,  through  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson, 
the  Superintendent  of  New  England  Churches,  your 
very  kindly  expressed  desire  that  I  shall  take  charge 
of  Christ's  Church,  Longwood. 

"  I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  invitation,  and  with 
great  pleasure  do  I  accept  the  same,  and  most  gladly 
will  I  give  my  services  for  such  time  as  the  same  may 
be  needed." 

Once  having  made  up  his  mind  to  do  this  work,  he 
went  to  it  with  all  the  delight  and  hopefulness  of  a 
young  man  going  to  his  first  parish. 

The  first  service  was  held  April  9,  1893,  and  is  thus 
reported  in  the  Boston  Globe  of  April  10:  — 

The  old  Christ  Church,  Longwood,  was  reopened  yesterday 
morning  after  its  doors  had  been  closed  for  about  fifteen  years. 

The  old  church  is  a  stone  edifice,  and  is  situated  on  Colchester 
Street.  It  was  built  about  thirty-five  years  ago  by  David  Sears, 
at  his  own  expense,  and  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  a  plan  of 
religious  worship  which  had  originated  with  himself.  For  a  short 
time  the  services  continued,  but  the  plan  was  not  successful ;  and 
after  a  time  the  church  was  used  for  holding  services  by  various 
denominations. 

It  was  the  first  house  of  worship  erected  in  the  Longwood  sec- 
tion of  Brookline.  About  fifteen  years  ago  its  doors  were  closed, 
and  since  that  time  it  has  been  "  more  ornamental  than  useful " 
to  the  section. 

About  a  year  ago  a  few  residents  in  the  vicinity  interested 
themselves  in  the  organization  of  a  new  religious  society.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  further  the  matter.  This  committee 
invited  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  late  of  the  Norfolk  Uni- 
tarian Church,  to  take  charge  of  the  new  society. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 25 

A  congregation  of  about  one  hundred  people  gathered  yester- 
day morning  to  hear  the  first  sermon.  Mr.  Bradlee  took  his  text 
from  Acts  vii.  33,  "  Put  off  thy  shoes  from  thy  feet,  for  the  place 
where  thou  standest  is  holy  ground." 

The  speaker  endeavored  to  prove  that  all  places  were  holy,  if  a 
person  had  the  holy  spirit  to  meet  each  occasion  as  it  came.  He 
spoke  of  the  glory  of  friendship,  by  which  all  people  could  be 
brought  together  in  a  truer  fellowship,  and  also  of  the  spiritual 
fellowship  that  made  all  people  as  one  in  the  sight  of  God.  He 
finally  maintained  that  every  duty  nearest  at  hand  brought  us  all 
closer  together  and  nearer  to  God. 

The  promoters  of  the  venture  were  greatly  pleased  with  the 
success  of  the  first  service,  and  feel  confident  that  it  will  be  re- 
ceived in  the  vicinity  with  much  satisfaction. 

Of  this  service  Dr.  Bradlee  made  the  following 
note :  — 

"  I  began  my  new  work  in  Longwood,  Christ's 
Church,  Colchester  Street,  Sunday,  April  9,  1893.  I 
had  a  very  good  number  for  the  first  service.  I  am  to 
be  temporary  pastor  and  preacher.  The  movement  is 
an  experiment,  but  everything  looks  very  favorable." 

He  made  up  his  mind  to  keep  this  church  open  so 
long  as  the  people  were  satisfied  to  have  him  preach 
and  would  contribute  the  small  amount  needed  to  pay 
organist,  singers,  etc.  He  had  no  salary ;  and  the 
other  -expenses  of  the  church  were  in  large  measure 
provided  for  by  a  fund. 

For  a  while  there  was  great  uncertainty  as  to  the 
future  of  Unitarianism  in  this  locality.  There  were 
those  who  wished  to  erect  a  church  at  Coolidge's 
Corner.  There  were  many  who  objected  to  the  lit- 
urgy of  Christ's  Church,  even  in  its  abbreviated  form. 


126  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

None  of  these  things  disturbed  Dr.  Bradlee.  He 
preached  to  those  who  cared  to  hear  him  and  who, 
with  him,  hoped  for  a  future  for  Christ's  Church,  what- 
ever their  number  might  be. 

He  was  delighted  with  the  church  edifice  and  its 
location.  He  sympathized  entirely  with  the  broad 
spirit  out  of  which  the  church  was  established.  He 
was  not  wholly  pleased  with  the  ritual,  although,  as  he 
used  it  in  part  from  Sunday  to  Sunday,  he  found  it  less 
objectionable  from  a  personal  point  of  view.  His  re- 
ligious nature  was  too  spontaneous  and  impetuous  to 
bear  the  restraint  of  any  liturgy  without  some  chafing ; 
but  he  put  aside  his  personal  feeling,  and  urged  his 
people  to  do  so  for  the  good  of  the  cause  they  were 
trying  to  serve. 

In  October,  1893,  a  note  was  sent  to  many  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  church,  in  which  it  was  said :  — 

There  are  many  in  our  midst  who  feel  a  strong  interest  in  the 
hope  of  establishing  a  Unitarian  society  in  this  locality ;  and  it 
seems  a  great  pity  that  for  the  want  of  the  small  amounts  neces- 
sary we  should  not  hold  together  in  a  purpose  and  service  already 
promising  and  that  may  result  eventually  in  a  strong  society. 

Our  earnest  leader,  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  gives  his 
time  and  energies  free ;  but,  while  the  trustees  of  Christ's  Church 
give  the  use  of  the  edifice,  it  should  be  generally  understood 
there  is  no  fund  from  which  to  pay  the  weekly  expenses  of  music, 
sexton,  etc. 

Dr.  Bradlee  saw  to  it  that  the  expenses  were  paid 
every  Sunday,  and  did  not  mean  that  the  services 
should  continue  beyond  the  point  where  the  debts 
could  be  fully  paid. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 27 

The  work  was  carried  on  during  the  seasons  of 
1893-94  and  1894-95  without  any  great  variation  of 
members  or  interest. 

In  December,  1893,  Dr.  Bradlee  published  his  second 
volume  of  sermons,  "  Sermons  for  the  Church."  This 
volume  was  well  received,  and  was  soon  out  of  print,  as 
only  a  limited  edition  was  published. 

A  few  commendations  of  the  volume  are  given 
here  :  — 

[From  Publisher's  Department  of  the  Christian  Register^] 

Full  to  overflowing  with  the  spirit  of  love  and  with  desire  for 
humanity's  uplifting,  this  volume  will  carry  much  of  help  and 
comfort  to  many  readers.  The  sermons  are  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  men  and  women  in  the  religious  and  the  devotional  life. 
They  are  also  a  call  to  religious  activity.     The  book  has  many  a 

stirring  note. 

[From  the  Unitarian.] 

Broad,  inclusive,  liberal  sermons.  It  is  a  privileged  commu- 
nity that  is  familiar  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  with  such  clear  treat- 
ment of  noble  themes. 

[From   Unity.'] 

Twenty-five  sermons,  practical  rather  than  doctrinal.  The 
ethical  and  spiritual  elements  so  predominate  in  these  sermons  as 
to  give  them  real  value.  The  sermons  are  wholesome  and  help- 
ful. 

-   [From  the  Pacific  Unitarian.] 

The  tone  is  persuasive,  appealing  to  the  heart  and  conscience. 
The  sermons  are  undenominational. 

[From  Every  Other  Sunday^] 

It  is  a  volume  that  continues  the  excellent  reputation  of  the 
author  obtained  through  his  previous  publication,  "  Sermons  for 
All  Sects."     Each  one  of  the  sermons  is  straightforward,  earnest, 


128  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

and  deeply  religious.  The  theological  attitude  which  he  takes 
is  very  fraternal  with  all  the  sects  of  Christendom.  It  has  been 
his*  aim  to  always  emphasize  the  unities  which  underlie  the  differ- 
ent outgrowths  of  Christian  belief.  From  these  principal  chords 
he  evokes  the  music  of  his  good  will,  warning,  comfort,  and  spir- 
itual wisdom. 

[From  the  Commonwealth^ 

The  discourses  are  so  entirely  unsectarian,  so  free  from  doc- 
trinal discussion,  that  the  greater  part  of  them  might  be  preached, 
without  scarcely  an  alteration,  from  any  Christian  pulpit.  Liberal 
they  certainly  are,  and  optimistic  in  their  general  tone.  Members 
of  any  denomination  may  read  this  book  with  pleasure  and  profit. 

[From  the  Rochester  Herald.] 

They  are  scholarly  essays,  and  marked  by  a  keen  analysis  of 
certain  passages  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Their  literary  style  is 
excellent,  yet  they  are  so  simply  constructed  that  a  child  can 
understand  them.  One  does  not  see  here  a  disposition  to  use  the 
lash,  but  rather  an  inclination  to  attract  the  reader  to  the  stand- 
ard of  Christ. 

[From  the  Rev.  George  E.  Ellis,  D.D.,  LL.D.] 

I  derived  from  the  perusal  of  the  volume  deep  satisfaction. 

You  have  been  content  to  address  human  folk  living  on  the 
earth,  and  to  draw  for  them  lessons  from  the  communicative 
hearers  spoken  to  hearts  capable  of  giving  responses  to  them. 

I  think  that  both  pundits  and  the  common  run  of  plain  people 
cannot  fail  to  find  quickening,  guidance,  and  edification  from 
your  instructions. 

[From  the  Rev.  E.  E.   Hale,  D.D.,  Pastor  of  South  Congregational 
Church,  Boston.] 

I  look  forward  to  great  pleasure  in  reading  the  sermons. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  told  you  that  your  other  volume  of 
sermons  was  the  only  book  of  that  kind  which  I  ever  read 
through  at  a  sitting. 


PERIOD  OF  REST  AND  LONGWOOD.  1 29 

[From    the   Rev.    D.   M.   Wilson,  Superintendent   of  New   England 
Churches.] 

Great  and  practical  thoughts  in  plain  and  vigorous  language. 
The  note  of  an  undoubting  faith  strikes  clear  in  every  sermon. 

To  all  in  the  "  Church  Universal,"  with  whom  and  in  whom 
there  is  one  true  spirit  and  one  spiritual  life,  these  sermons  will 
proye  efficacious  for  instruction  and  inspiration. 

The  great  event  of  the  year  1894  for  Dr.  Bradlee 
was  the  celebration  of  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his 
ordination,  December  It. 

The  Boston  Association  had  invited  him  to  read  a 
paper  on  his  recollections  of  a  ministry  of  forty  years 
at  the  December  meeting,  which  was  to  be  held  at  his 
house  December  10 ;  but  the  date  of  this  reading  was 
changed  to  January  14,  when  the  Association  met  with 
him.  As  the  Boston  Association  meeting  had  been 
postponed,  he  decided  to  have  a  private  celebration  of 
the  anniversary  with  some  personal  friends  at  his  own 
house.     It  was  a  royal  occasion. 

This  account  is  taken  from  the  private  note-book  of 
one  of  the  sixteen  who  were  present  at  the  entertain- 
ment :  — 

On  Dec.  II,  1894,  the  40th  Anniversary  of  the  Ordination  of 
Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  took  place  at  57  West  Brookline  Street, 
Boston,  Mass.     Tuesday, 

1854.  40.  1894. 

December  11. 

At  about  five  o'clock  the  following  gentlemen  met  at  57  West 
Brookline  Street,  namely:  Mr.  Samuel  B.  Doggett,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Edward  E.  Hale,  the  Rev.  John  M.  Marsters,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rich- 


130  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

mond  Fisk,  the  Rev.  Daniel  M.  Wilson,  the  Rev.  Alfred  Man- 
chester, Mr.  Fred.  H.  Nazro,  Mr.  Edwin  T.  Home,  Mr.  Edwin  J. 
Lewis,  Jr.,  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Babcock,  Mr.  Samuel  T.  Cobb,  Mr. 
J.  H.  Fallon,  Mr.  Walter  C.  Smith,  the  Rev.  James  De  Norman- 
die,  the  Rev.  Charles  G.  Ames. 

Mr.  Samuel  B.  Doggett  spoke  for  the  First  Church,  Boston, 
where  C.  D.  Bradlee,  when  only  seventeen  years  old,  became  a 
regular  member  and  communicant.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  E. 
Hale  spoke  for  the  Hollis  Street  Church  and  for  the  Christian 
Unity  Society;  the  Rev.  John  M.  Marsters,  for  the  Allen  Street 
Church,  North  Cambridge,  and  for  the  college  days  of  his  friend ; 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Richmond  Fisk  for  the  East  Boston  Society;  the 
Rev.  Alfred  Manchester,  for  the  Boston  School  for  the  Ministry ; 
the  Rev.  Daniel  M.  Wilson,  for  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer; 
Mr.  Fred.  H.  Nazro,  for  the  Christian  Unity  Society ;  Messrs. 
E.  T.  Home  and  Edwin  J.  Lewis,  Jr.,  for  the  Harrison  Square 
Church ;  Messrs.  Samuel  H.  Babcock  and  Samuel  T.  Cobb, 
for  the  Norfolk  Street  Church;  Mr.  J.  H.  Fallon,  for  Christ's 
Church,  Longwood;  the  Rev.  James  De  Normandie,  for  the 
Boston  Association  of  Ministers. 

At  about  6. 1 5  the  guests  partook  of  an  ample  supper,  when 
two  excellent  poems  were  read,  one  of  which  was  composed  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  E.  Hale  and  one  by  the  Rev.  Alfred  Man- 
chester. 

POEM    BY    DR.    E.    E.    HALE. 

Among  the  warnings  of  the  word  are  those 

Which  Moses,  first  of  men, 
Wrote  of  the  cares  and  pains  which  follow  close 

On  threescore  years  and  ten. 

Man's  strength  is  labor :  sorrow  is  the  meed 

He  shall  deplore 
If  by  such  strength  of  human  life,  indeed, 

He  reach  fourscore. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  131 

Little  did  Moses  heed  —  nay,  little  know  — 

What  life  and  love 
May  in  the  Fount  of  Truth  eternal  flow 

Down  from  above. 

At  that  eternal  Fountain,  freely  given, 

Our  cheerful  friend 
Drinks  every  day  another  draught  from  heaven, 

Draughts  which  shall  never  end. 

Who  drinks  these  waters  as  they  freely  flow, 

Saviour  of  men, — 
Waters  that  thou  shalt  give, —  will  never  know 

Of  thirst  again. 

At  boyhood's  well-side  where  that  Fountain  flows 

Fresh  with  eternal  truth, 
Our  friend  drinks  deep ;  and  so  it  is  he  knows 

Perpetual  youth. 

Faster  the  race  is  run 

As,  one  by  one, 
Our  selfish  handicaps  away  we  fling : 
Love  works  the  miracle  of  Youth, 
Love  speaks  the  oracle  of  Truth, 

And  they  who  prove 

The  strength  of  Love 

Grow  younger,  and  more  young 
'  For  forty  years. 


POEM    BY   THE    REV.    ALFRED    MANCHESTER. 

Hail,  Brother,  Teacher,  constant  Friend ! 

Now  forty  years  are  o'er, 
Our  voices  we  would  gladly  blend, 

And  blessings  on  thee  pour. 


132  IN  memoriam:   c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

Hail,  memories  sweet  of  vanished  days, 

When  hope  shone  out  afar, 
While  youth  resolved  in  countless  ways 

To  follow  duty's  star  ! 

Hail,  thought  of  years  so  nobly  spent, 

A  life  blessed  from  above, 
While  back  to  God  each  talent  lent 

Was  given  in  filial  love  ! 

Hail,  day  of  restful  peace  and  light, 

The  fruit  of  labor  past, 
When  life  is  crowned  with  honor  bright, 

Which  evermore  shall  last ! 

Hail,  other  days  on  earth  to  be 

With  love  and  duties  filled ; 
A  soil  that  long  we  hope  to  see 

For  heavenly  harvest  tilled. 

Hail!  welcome, —  casting  out  all  fear 

Before  our  Father's  throne, — 
The  Master's  judgment  thou  shalt  hear 

"  Well  done,  thou  faithful  one." 

The  remarks  that  were  made  were  touching,  eloquent,  and  im- 
pressive. 

The  Rev.  John  M.  Marsters  referred  to  Dr.  Bradlee's  college 
days,  and  said  that  he  heard  the  first  sermon  that  his  friend 
ever  preached,  at  Hampton  Falls,  N.H. 

Dr.  Fisk  mentioned  the  very  friendly  relations  existing  between 
Dr.  Bradlee  and  the  East  Boston  society. 

The  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson  said  that  his  first  introduction  to  the 
ministry  was  when  Dr.  Bradlee  was  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  that  to  him  he  was  indebted  for  the  beginning  of 
his  interest  in  church  work. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  133 

The  Rev.  Alfred  Manchester  mentioned  that  he  commenced  his 
studies  for  the  ministry  under  Dr.  Bradlee  and  other  clergymen, 
who  then  were  members  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Boston  School  for 
the  Ministry. 

Mr.  Nazro  mentioned  the  manly,  generous,  and  lovely  work 
that  was  done  at  the  Christian  Unity  Society,  when  the  one  that 
they  had  met  to  honor  was  the  pastor  of  the  same ;  and  he  men- 
tioned that  the  Christian  Unity  Society  was  the  first  institutional 
society  that  was  established  in  Boston. 

Messrs.  Home  and  Lewis  tendered  full  expressions  of  love  and 
respect  in  behalf  of  the  Harrison  Square  Church,  and  mentioned 
that  the  real  existence  of  that  church  was  due  to  the  efforts  and 
the  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  the  one  of  whom  they  were  all  speak- 
ing. 

Mr.  Babcock  and  Mr.  Cobb  said  that  the  great  prosperity  of 
the  church  in  Norfolk  Street,  and  the  real  life  of  the  same,  was 
due  to  the  two  years'  work  freely  given  by  the  one  who  had  built 
up  the  church  at  Harrison  Square. 

Dr.  Hale  mentioned  his  long  fellowship  and  friendship  with 
Dr.  Bradlee,  and  also  gave  cordial  testimony  to  the  work  that 
was  done  by  his  friend  when  he  had  the  care  of  the  Christian 
Unity  Society. 

Mr.  John  H.  Fallon  said  that  all  the  ministers  had  forgotten 
to  mention  one  thing  about  the  one  whom  they  wished  to  honor, 
and  that  was  his  social  spirit ;  and  he  referred  to  the  large  party 
of  gentlemen  that  were  the  guests  of  Dr.  Bradlee,  at  Bar  Harbor, 
where  all  sorts  of  entertainments  were  given  by  the  host,  who 
seemed  to  be  one  with  his  party,  and  wanted  everybody  to  have 
the  fullest  enjoyment  possible. 

Letters  were  read  that  were  sent  by  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Hurd,  of 
New  York,  and  by  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Winkley,  of  Boston. 

Letters  were  received  in  reference  to  this  anniversary  from  Dr. 
E.  A.  Carleton ;  John  Ward  Dean,  Esq. ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
C.  Winslow;  Ex-Governor  William  E.  Russell;  the  Hon.  F.  G. 
Adams,  LL.D.;   Miss  Louisa  Hewins ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fottler;  the 


134  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Rev.  Edward  A.  Horton;  C.  T.  Deblois,  Esq.;  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Merrill  E.  Gates,  President  of  Amherst  College;  Mrs.  Martha 
Perry  Lowe;  the  Rev.  William  H.  Lyon;  Lieutenant  Governor 
Roger  Wolcott;  Mr.  Samuel  M.  Tourtellot;  Mr.  Stephen  H. 
Williams;  the  Rev.  Charles  T.  Canfield ;  Miss  Gertrude  Haley; 
the  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Dike,  LL.D.;  the  Hon.  R.  A.  Brock,  of 
Richmond,  Va. ;  the  Hon.  Mark  W.  Sheafe,  of  Watertown, 
So.  Dak.;  President  George  L.  Cary,  of  Meadville,  Pa.;  Miss 
I.  E.  Kelsey;  the  Misses  Wiggin;  and  many  others. 

The  Boston  Association  passed  the  following  vote  at 
its  December  meeting :  — 

In  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Caleb  D. 
Bradlee,  D.D.,  who  for  two  years  has  been  moderator  of  this 
Association,  we,  its  members,  desire  to  express  our  hearty  affec- 
tion, admiration,  and  esteem  for  Dr.  Bradlee,  and  the  earnest  hope 
that  he  may  long  be  spared  to  our  fellowship. 

On  Jan.  14,  1895,  the  following  clergymen  met  at  57 
West  Brookline  Street  to  congratulate  Dr.  Bradlee  on 
the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his  ordination,  namely : 
Rev.  Messrs.  Alfred  Manchester,  Daniel  M.  Wilson, 
William  H.  Ramsay,  C.  F.  Dole,  William  R.  Lord, 
George  H.  Hosmer,  J.  H.  Wiggin.  Dr.  P.  M.  Macdon- 
ald,  Francis  Tiffany,  C.  R.  Eliot,  F.  W.  Pratt,  L.  B. 
Macdonald,  S.  B.  Cruft,  John  Cuckson,  R.  Fisk,  D.D., 
William  H.  Lyon,  J.  Huxtable,  Henry  F.  Jenks,  A.  E. 
Mullett,  William  Bradley,  A.  P.  Putnam,  D.D.,  S.  W. 
Bush,  James  De  Normandie,  Charles  G.  Ames,  Howard 
N.  Brown,  E.  R.  Butler,  William  S.  Key,  C.  C.  Car- 
penter,  Thomas  Van  Ness,  William  H.  Branigan,  J.  L. 
Seward,  E.  D.  Towle,  Edward   E.   Hale,  D.D.,  F.  B. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  135 

Mott,  George  D.  Latimer,  Charles  Noyes,  Joseph  H. 
Allen,  D.D.,  William  O.  White,  S.  W.  Brooke,  J.  E. 
Bagley,  N.  P.  Gilman,  C.  W.  Park,  M.  J.  Savage,  C.  F. 
Nicholson,  and  Mr.  Parker  B.  Field. 

At  the  meeting  Dr.  Bradlee  read  the  exceedingly 
interesting  paper  on  "Recollections  of  a  Ministry 
of  Forty  Years,"  which  has  been  printed  and  from 
which  quotations  have  been  made  in  this  memoir. 
The  paper  was  very  kindly  received,  and  in  the  dis- 
cussion which  followed  remarks  were  made  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  Brown,  Cruft,  Allen,  White,  Putnam,  Hale,  and 
Cuckson. 

In  the  Christian  Register  of  Dec.  13,  1894,  was  the 
following :  — 

We  extend  congratulations  to  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  D.D., 
on  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his  ordination  to  the  ministry.  Mr. 
Bradlee  has  given  proof  of  that  ministry  by  the  devotion  and  gen- 
erosity and  unselfish  service  which  he  has  brought  to  it.  This 
event  was  appropriately  recognized  by  his  brethren  of  the  Bos- 
ton Association  on  Monday  afternoon  last. 

The  Boston  Commonwealth  of  Dec.  15,  1894,  said:  — 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bradlee,  who,  to  every  one's  surprise,  appears 
now  as  one  of  the  seniors  in  his  profession,  entertained  a  company 
of  friends  on  Tuesday  evening,  who  met  to  congratulate  him  on 
his  health  and  vigor  on  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his  ordination. 
On  the  nth  of  December,  1854,  Dr.  Bradlee,  then  plain  Mr. 
Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  was  ordained  as  the  minister  of  the  church 
at  North  Cambridge.  He  is  now  in  charge  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  at  Longwood,  and  for  these  forty  years  has  been  at  work 
in  all  the  best  moral  agencies,  most  successfully  and  honorably. 


136  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Two  important  events  marked  the  year  1895  for  Dr. 
Bradlee.  On  the  28th  of  May  he  entered  his  new 
home,  "The  Three  Arches,"  on  Fisher  Avenue,  Brook- 
line,  near  the  Chestnut  Hill  Reservoir.  The  large, 
new  house  had  just  been  built  specially  for  him ;  and  he 
looked  upon  it,  not  simply  as  a  comfortable  home  for 
the  years  to  come,  but  as  an  elegant  place  in  which  to 
exercise  that  hospitality  for  which  he  was  noted. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  immediately  following  the 
entrance  upon  his  new  home,  he,  with  the  assistance  of 
his  friend,  the  Rev.  James  De  Normandie,  performed 
the  service  of  marriage  between  his  daughter,  Miss 
Eliza  Williams  Bradlee,  and  Walter  Clark  Smith,  Esq. 
The  wedding  took  place  in  the  library  of  the  new  home, 
and  at  the  reception  which  followed  the  spacious  house 
was  filled  with  guests. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Dr.  Bradlee  had  an 
interesting  correspondence  with  the  Rev.  William 
Pigott,  D.D.,  of  England. 

There  were  rumors  of  war  between  England  and  the 
United  States.  The  following  was  contained  in  a  let- 
ter received  by  Dr.  Bradlee  from  Dr.  Pigott :  — 

On  receipt  of  your  letter  concerning  the  strained  relations  twixt 
our  countries,  I  read  it  to  my  congregation  of  a  thousand  people 
in  Trinity  Street  Church,  Gainsboro,  all  of  whom  fully  appreciated 
your  sentiment,  and  reciprocate  warmest  sympathy  and  support 
in  your  pacific  policy. 

I  was  tempted  to  send  your  letter  to  the  British  press,  but  dare 
not  venture  without  your  sanction :  nevertheless,  have  read  it  in 
the  several  churches  over  which  I  preside,  and  daily  plead  for 
peace  as  well  as  preach  the  subject  of  the  angel  song. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 37 

God  bless  you  in  your  statesman-like  attitude  and  truly  Chris- 
tian conduct  concerning  so  grave  a  question  as  that  threatening 
the  mother  and  daughter  nations. 

Dr.  Bratflee  was  deeply  grieved  by  the  death  on  the 
13th  of  June,  1896,  of  his  intimate  friend,  the  Rev. 
Peter  M.  Macdonald,  D.D.,  pastor  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church,  Boston. 

In  a  note  he  says  :  "  My  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Peter 
M.  Macdonald,  passed  suddenly  away.  I  was  asked  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  E.  Archibald  to  make  an  address  at  his 
funeral.  Being  quite  feeble,  I  was  not  able  to  accept 
the  invitation  ;  but  I  wrote  the  following  note  :  — 

iliDear  Dr.  Archibald, —  I  have  just  received  your 
postal  card.  I  have  been  in  my  chamber  all  day,  sick 
and  feeble ;  and  my  family  insist  upon  my  going  to  the 
White  Mountains  early  Thursday  morning  if  I  should 
be  able  to  do  so,  as  it  is  thought  that  a  complete  change 
will  do  me  good.  The  news  of  the  death  of  my  inti- 
mate friend,  Dr.  Macdonald,  reached  me  through  the 
paper  early  this  morning ;  and  I  have  been  so  shocked 
that  I  have  suffered  all  day.  For  about  fifteen  years 
we  have  been  together  in  a  very  close  and  precious 
friendship.  He  was  a  loving,  earnest,  forgiving,  self- 
sacrificing,  charitable,  pure-minded,  and  consecrated 
man,  true  to  his  friends,  patient  with  all,  large  in 
mind,  social  in  nature,  at  peace  with  all  mankind ;  and 
he  took  into  his  fellowship  the  members  of  all  churches 
who  tried  to  be  faithful  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  He  always  looked  on  the  bright  side,  and  his 
presence  was  a  benediction. 


138  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

"  'I  wish  I  could  say  all  this  on  Thursday,  and  more ; 
but  will  you  say  it  for  me,  and  will  you  and  all  the 
brethren  assembled,  and  all  the  people  who  are  present, 
be  assured  of  my  earnest  and  deep  sympathy  ? 
"'In  your  sadness, 

"  'Yours  sincerely, 

"'Caleb  Davis  Bradlee." 

Dr.  Bradlee  wrote  the  following  poem,  which  was 
read  at  Dr.  Macdonald's  funeral :  — 

Gone  home, — gone  to  a  place  of  light ! 

Called  quickly  to  his  God  ! 
Father,  we  know  thou  doest  right, 

But  feel  the  heavy  rod. 

Thou  knowest  best,  and  yet  we  weep  : 

It  is  a  fearful  blow  ! 
Shadows  around  the  heart  do  creep : 

O  God,  thy  grace  bestow. 

The  "  Gates  Ajar"  may  each  one  see, 

And,  as  we  look  in  love, 
Behold  the  lost,  by  thy  decree, 

Enthroned  in  joy  above. 

He  speaks  to  us,  and  bids  us  say, 

"  O  God,  thy  will  be  done  "  : 
He'll  lead  us  now,  each  hour  and  day, 

To  Christ,  the  holy  one. 

The  year  1896  witnessed  a  great  change  in  the  con- 
dition of  Christ's  Church,  Longwood.  The  desire  of 
Dr.  Bradlee's  heart  began  to  be  realized.  The  friends 
who  had  loyally  stood   by  their  leader  in   the  day  of 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  139 

small  things  were  glad  to  share  his  joy  when  new  fam- 
ilies began  to  come  in  and  the  prospects  for  a  strong 
church  to  be  organized  began  to  be  bright. 

The  Rev.  Minot  J.  Savage,  D.D.,  left  the  Church  of 
the  Unity  in  Boston  for  New  York  in  the  autumn  of 
1896.  Many  of  his  people  lived  in  Longwood,  and  a 
large  number  of  them  chose  to  go  to  the  Longwood 
church. 

Dr.  Bradlee  greatly  rejoiced  to  see  this  prosperity  in 
the  church  for  which  he  had  worked  so  earnestly,  es- 
pecially as  he  began  to  be  in  quite  feeble  health,  and 
felt  that  some  new  man  must  be  found  to  speak  from 
the  pulpit.  To  find  a  man  who  could  afford  to  speak 
to  very  few  would  be  difficult :  to  find  a  good  pastor 
for  a  full  church  would  be  comparatively  easy. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1896,  he  made  the  follow- 
ing note :  — 

u  I  have  notified  the  members  of  my  society,  Christ's 
Church,  Longwood,  that  I  must  give  up  the  charge  of 
Christ's  Church  May  1,  1897.  I  am  now  so  feeble  that 
I  find  it  very  difficult  to  make  calls ;  and  as  I  shall  be, 
in  May,  over  sixty-six  years  old,  and  as  my  father  gave 
up  active  work  at  sixty-six,  and  as  I  shall,  in  May,  have 
been  in  the  ministry  forty-two  years  and  a  half,  I  think 
it  is  well  for  me  to  give  up  regular  work.  I  don't 
intend  to  give  up  the  ministry  or  preaching,  but  I 
only  free  myself  from  the  care  and  responsibility  of  a 
parish." 

His  pulpit  utterances  at  this  time  were  full  of  the 
old-time  vigor,  and  made  a  good  impression  on  those 
who  listened,  as  the  following  indicates  :  — 


140  IN    MEMORIAM  :     C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  Chapel  at  Longwood. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  Transcript  "  .•  — 

"  So  fight  I,  not  as  one  who  beateth  the  air." 

These  words  of  Scripture  came  with  impressiveness  and  force 
from  the  lips  of  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  a  few  Sundays  since,  in 
the  pulpit  of  the  old  stone  Sears  Chapel,  now  known  as  the 
Second  Unitarian  Church  of  Brookline.  This  devoted  captain 
and  leader  in  the  army  of  the  Lord,  after  repeated  successes  in 
the  establishment  of  "camps  of  instruction,"  has  now  crowned 
his  labors  by  securely  planting  the  banner  of  the  cross  upon  the 
beautiful  heights  of  Longwood.  Here  for  some  years  past  have 
gathered  a  faithful  few,  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  they 
should  be  re-enforced  and  strengthened  by  the  coming  in  of 
others  prompted  to  aid  the  good  cause,  and  to  establish  for  them- 
selves a  new  church  home.  Detachments  from  the  company 
lately  led  by  the  talented  Savage  (now  transferred  to  another 
field)  with  others  have  united  with  the  "  forlorn  hope  "  hitherto  in 
possession,  and  an  earnest,  enthusiastic  congregation  is  the  result. 
The  bounds  of  this  "  camp  "  are  wide,  with  ample  accommoda- 
tions ;  and  a  cordial  welcome  awaits  those  who  feel  impelled  to 
send  the  message,  "  Hold  the  fort,  for  I  am  coming." 

Ernest. 
Longwood,  January  3. 

In  January,  1897,  Dr.  Bradlee  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society  of  William  and  Mary 
College. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1897,  his  lifelong  friend, 
Samuel  H.  Hurd,  M.D.,  died.  Dr.  Bradlee  was  much 
affected  by  this  event.     He  wrote  thus  :  — 

"  When  one  passes  away  from  earth  who  has  made 
his  life  bright  for  himself  and  for  others,  who  never 
looked  on  the  dark  side,  whose  smile  of  welcome  and 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  141 

words  of  cheer  filled  the  heart  of  those  that  met  him 
with  joy  and  peace,  it  seems  a  privilege  as  well  as  a 
duty  to  consecrate  his  memory  by  a  few  words  of  love 
and  gratitude.  He  who  can  no  longer  speak  for  him- 
self, and  wno  has  made  every  one  happy,  should  have 
some  one  to  speak  and  call  him  blessed.  Dr.  Hurd's 
bright  spirit,  his  pure  character,  and  his  keen  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature  drew  to  him  a  large  number  of 
friends  who  deeply  regretted  his  removal." 

After  January  i  Dr.  Bradlee  preached  but  seldom 
in  the  pulpit  of  Christ's  Church,  although  for  a  part  of 
the  time  he  read  the  service.  Men  were  heard  who 
might  be  candidates  for  settlement  after  May  i.  It 
was  understood  that  the  last  Sunday  in  April  would 
be  Dr.  Bradlee's  farewell  Sunday,  and  that  he  would 
preach  on  that  day.  Meantime,  in  a  letter  to  some 
officer  of  the  society,  he  wrote  :  — 

"  I  take  opportunity  to  express  my  gratitude  to  the 
committee  and  to  the  society  for  the  loyalty  and  the 
affection  that  have  been  a  blessing  to  me  during 
the  whole  four  years  of  my  pastorship.  Not  only  have 
all  the  members  of  the  society  who  have  been  with  me 
from  the  commencement  of  my  work  in  April,  1893, 
been  courteous  and  faithful,  but  also  the  new  members 
who  haVe  come  to  us  during  the  past  few  months  have 
given  to  me  a  fellowship  that  has  been  very  precious 
and  comforting ;  and,  as  I  am  obliged  to  retire  from  my 
charge  on  account  of  feeble  health  and  advancing  age, 
I  shall  carry  with  me  a  constant  remembrance  of  the 
favors  that  I  have  received." 

Many  letters  came  to  him  regreting  his  resignation 
on  account  of  ill-health. 


142  IN    MEMORIAM  l    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Charles  G.  Ames,  D.D.,  wrote  :  — 

The  papers  speak  of  your  resignation  and  ill-health,  for  both 
of  which  I  am  sorrowful.  But  your  afternoon  of  life  will  not  be 
uncheered  by  the  faith  you  have  taught  to  others,  and  you  may 
depend  on  the  steady  and  strong  sympathy  of  the  brotherhood. 
Best  of  all,  "  The  Jehovah  is  round  about,  and  underneath  are 
the  everlasting  arms." 

A  prominent  man  in  Christ's  Church  wrote,  express- 
ing his  appreciation  of  Dr.  Bradlee's  work, — 

Which  has  kindled  into  existence  a  flourishing  Unitarian  organi- 
zation in  our  vicinity,  at  the  very  threshold  of  our  home,  a 
society  which  without  doubt  is  eventually  to  become  a  prominent 
and  a  strong  one,  and  which  will  do  its  part  and  shoulder  its 
burden  in  local  and  in  denominational  work.  ...  I  sincerely 
regret  the  bodily  infirmities  which  require  you  to  officially  sever 
your  connection  with  our  society,  and  trust  you  may  be  spared  to 
us  as  a  friend  and  companion  for  many  years. 

Another  writes  :  — 

You  will  feel  relieved  at  the  cessation  of  care,  and  rejoice,  too, 
that  your  labor  has  at  length  produced  so  good  a  result.  The 
prospect  at  times  must  have  been  very  discouraging,  but  you  can 
at  length  feel  that  "patience  has  had  her  perfect  work."  Our 
audiences  maintain  an  even  interest,  and  show  sure  gains  as  to 
attendance.  If  we  succeed  in  calling  to  our  help  some  man  who 
shall  show  the  zeal  which  you  have  manifested,  our  prosperity  is 
secured. 

Another  writes  :  — 

Permit  me  to  express  to  you  my  personal  regret  at  the  neces- 
sity which  you  feel  compels  you  to  sever  your  intimate  and  active 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 43 

connection  with  our  society,  and  likewise  to  extend  to  you  my 
most  sincere  and  cordial  thanks  for  your  unabated  interest  and 
energy  in  the  work  which  you  have  ever  manifested,  with  such  an 
evident  confidence  in  the  ultimate  success  of  your  endeavors. 
Without  these  factors,  I  feel  that  the  nucleus  of  our  present  very 
promising  society  would  long  ago  have  been  dissipated. 

During  March  and  April,  1897,  Dr.  Bradlee  went 
from  home  but  little.  The  exhaustion  which  followed 
special  services  indicated  that  he  was  not  as  strong  as 
formerly.  During  his  life  in  the  new  house  at  Brook- 
line  he  accustomed  himself  to  more  activity  in  the  open 
air  than  usual,  taking  quite  long  walks  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home.  Now  even  short  walks  wearied  him,  and 
he  shrank  from  any  out-of-door  exercise. 

The  last  Sunday  in  April,  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the 
month,  proved  to  be  very  beautiful.  It  was  the  last 
day  of  his  pulpit  work  at  Christ's  Church.  The  audi- 
ence was  large  and  full  of  enthusiasm.  Dr.  Bradlee 
was  radiant  with  the  sense  of  prosperity  for  the  church 
and  the  thought  of  his  freedom  from  the  burden  of  its 
care. 

As  he  entered  the  pulpit,  the  wide  door  of  the  church 
was  open ;  and  the  sweet  spring  air  and  the  song  of 
birds  filled  the  sacred  edifice.  He  preached  with  won- 
derful power,  laying  proper  emphasis  upon  the  past, 
present,  and  future  of  the  church. 

He  wrote  to  a  friend  that,  when  he  closed  the 
service,  the  people  crowded  about  him,  and  gave  him 
a  perfect  ovation.  The  day,  the  occasion,  the  tender 
relation  between  pastor  and  people,  the  great  hope  for 
the  future,  the  presence  of  hosts  of  friends  from  the 


144  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

various  churches  that  he  had  served,  all  combined  to 
put  a  crown  of  glory  upon  the  head  of  the  good  man 
who  stood  at  the  close  of  a  ministry  of  forty-two  years 
and  a  half. 

The  following  account  of  the  occasion  is  from  the 
Boston  Herald  of  April  26:  — 

The  end  of  a  long,  useful,  and  successful  ministry  came  yester- 
day morning,  when  the  Rev.  Caleb  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  delivered 
his  farewell  sermon  to  the  Second  Unitarian  Society  in  Christ's 
Church,  Brookline.  Ill-health  and  advanced  age  compel  a  much- 
needed  rest,  and  he  leaves  his  charge  in  the  hands  of  a  strong 
and  nourishing  organization.  The  most  cordial  expression  of 
friendship  and  the  good  wishes  of  the  congregation  went  with 
him.  Dr.  Bradlee,  however,  proposes  to  retain  connection  with 
the  society;  and  it  will  be  his  church  home. 

A  short  history  of  this  church,  which  closes  its  doors  to  no 
Christian  denomination,  is  timely.  In  i860  the  Hon.  David 
Sears  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a  church  for  any  and  all 
Christian  religions,  and  in  1862  the  present  beautiful  building  on 
Colchester  Street  was  completed.  The  only  provision  made  was 
that  a  part  of  the  church  liturgy  be  adopted ;  and  even  that  was 
left  to  the  will  of  the  worshipping  society,  which  left  almost 
absolute  freedom,  as  the  word  "  amen  "  would  be  sufficient. 

The  idea  of  the  founder  was  a  union  of  all  Christian  churches. 
A  fund  was  kept  by  Mr.  Sears  for  the  care  of  the  building  and 
grounds,  and  even  the  sexton's  salary  was  provided  for  in  the  will. 

Prior  to  1893,  when  Dr.  Bradlee,  at  the  solicitation  of  three 
families,  organized  the  society,  the  church  was  closed  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  establishment  of  this  society  through  the 
efforts  of  Dr.  Bradlee  is  the  culminating  work  in  a  long  and 
useful  career.  The  little  church  family  of  seven  grew,  until  now 
a  large  and  enthusiastic  congregation  nearly  fills  the  structure. 

The  Brookline  church  was  well  filled  yesterday  morning  with  a 


PERIOD  OF  REST  AND  LONGWOOD.  1 45 

congregation  which  fully  appreciated  Dr.  Bradlee's  labors  for 
them,  and  the  great  results  attained.  He  gave  as  his  text  the 
words  in  1  Cor.  iii.  6, —  "  God  gave  the  increase."  The  perfec- 
tion of  this  world,  said  the  preacher,  is  not  brought  about  by  any 
one  great  person  or  by  a  single  age,  but  by  the  multitude  giving 
of  their  best  through  many  generations.  All  contribute  to  the 
great  result.  Every  thread  counts  in  the  great  warp  and  woof. 
Knowing  this,  we  should  do  our  work  bravely  and  patiently, 
leaving  to  God  the  result.  Let  us  be  glad  to  take  our  part  in  any 
work  which  falls  to  us.  Only  let  us  lay  the  foundations  so  well 
that  nothing  shall  give  way. 

The  results  are  God's,  not  ours.  Coming  to  our  own  church, 
how  could  our  increase  be  so  remarkable  unless  God  had  brought 
about  this  great  result?  Human  methods  were  used,  but  all 
through  them  and  through  all  our  best  efforts  flowed  the  guiding 
spirit  of  God.  As  far  as  human  events  are  concerned,  we  may 
say  it  was  brought  about  by  the  migration  of  a  large  number  of 
families  to  this  part  of  Brookline,  or  that  the  foundations  were 
laid  strongly  by  families  who  had  lived  here  for  many  years,  and 
who  were  glad  to  have  a  liberal  church  in  this  neighborhood. 
But  we  see  that  God  was  working  with  us  all  the  time. 

In  1893  a  few  families  began  to  attend  services  in  this  church, 
determined  to  stay  here  until  the  increase  came.  They  held  on 
bravely  for  years.  Stoutly  they  kept  the  post,  until  all  at  once 
the  relief  came ;  and  a  solid  phalanx  of  loving  and  loyal  people 
joined  the  movement,  and  made  the  church  a  permanent  organi- 
zation. Thus  have  we  grown  into  health  and  prosperity,  and  I 
have  been  enabled  -  to  stay  with  you  until  a  church  successful 
beyond  my  anticipations  worships  here.  And  now  you  have  my 
best  wishes  for  your  continued  prosperity. 

I  cannot  close  without  thanking  you  all  for  your  great  kindness 
to  me.  The  remembrance  of  that  will  be  a  choice  benediction  to 
me  the  remaining  years  of  my  life.  Although  on  account  of  my 
feeble  health  and  failing  strength  I  am  obliged  officially  to  sever 
my  relations  with  you,  yet  I  hope  that  nothing  in  the  future  will 


146  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

break  the   friendship  and  fellowship  which   has   been  so  close, 
tender,  and  beautiful. 

The  Boston  Journal  said  :  — 

Dr.  Bradlee's   Parting. 

A  long,  useful,  and  successful  ministry  was  brought  to  a  close 
yesterday  in  Christ's  Church,  Brookline,  when  to  the  Second 
Unitarian  Society  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  D.D.,  preached 
his  parting  sermon. 

The  text  was,  "  God  gave  the  increase."  He  said,  in 
speaking  of  the  church:  "  In  1893  a  few  faithful  families  began 
to  attend  this  church,  with  the  determination  to  remain  till  others 
came  to  help ;  and  nearly  all  have  held  on  bravely,  holding  the 
fort,  till  all  at  once,  last  October,  the  relief  came,  and  a  solid 
phalanx  of  living  children  of  God  marched  into  the  pews,  and 
said,  ■  We  have  come  to  stay,'  so  that,  with  nearly  thirty  families 
of  the  old  members  and  a  large  number  of  recruits,  we  have 
grown  up  into  health  and  prosperity,  and  I  have  been  able  to 
keep  my  pledge  that  I  would  stay  with  my  people  till  solid  success 
should  crown  my  efforts." 

The  sermon  preached  on  this  occasion  is  here  given  : 


GOD'S    HELPING    HAND. 

M  God  gave  the  increase." —  1  Cor.  iii.  6. 

The  perfection  of  this  world  is  not  brought  about  by 
one  person  or  by  one  age  or  by  any  one  set  of  circum- 
stances; for  perfection  is  the  result  of  the  efforts  of 
many  people  throughout  many  centuries,  and  by  the 
aid  of  circumstances  the  most  diverse,  exciting,  and 
strange. 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 47 

Every  one  of  us  contributes  a  part  toward  the  grand 
result,  and  a  small  part  at  the  best ;  and  yet  every 
thread  counts,  so  that,  if  any  one  thread  should  be  left 
out,  the  carpet  of  existence  will  be  incomplete,  rough, 
and  unattractive. 

Some,  like  the  apostle  Paul,  are  chosen  as  planters 
of  the  truth ;  and  their  mission  is  to  sow  the  seeds  of 
reality  broadcast  over  the  land,  leaving  the  care  of  the 
soil  to  others. 

Clear  thinkers  are  to  give  forth  their  ideas,  spark- 
ling, burning,  and  glorious  ;  and  it  is  their  duty  to  open 
the  prison  doors  of  these  surging,  rioting,  and  over- 
whelming thoughts,  letting  them,  like  Noah's  dove, 
seek  a  resting-place  on  the  soil  of  some  waiting  soul. 
They  must  let  these  airy  messengers  go  forth  with 
mercy  and  with  healing  on  their  wings.  They  must  let 
them  startle  the  earth,  rouse  curiosity,  sharpen  reason, 
stir  up  judgment,  sanctify  affection.  Yes,  they  must 
let  them  go  forth.  Although  at  times  they  must  march 
along,  unshaped,  unsightly,  and  rough-hewn  out  of  the 
quarry  of  the  brain,  still  they  must  trust  them  on  their 
uncertain  journey  to  the  unceasing  mercy  of  Almighty 
God. 

If  our  mission  be  simply  that  of  a  planter,  let  us  not 
be  anxious  about  living  to  see  results ;  and  let  us  leave 
issues  to  a  higher  Power,  being  very  careful  to  do  our 
work  bravely,  enthusiastically,  and  religiously.  All 
through  history  we  shall  find  those  who  only  scattered 
the  seed,  and  right  earnest  people  they  were.  Colum- 
bus, in  whose  capacious  brain  a  whole  continent 
seethed,  died  long  before  the  rich  blossoming  of  his 


148  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

ideas  was  detected.  And  he  simply  prepared  the  way 
for  the  grand  revelation  of  to-day,  and  by  the  magic 
touch  of  his  thoughts  converted  a  wilderness  into  a 
garden.  And  Luther  simply  began  the  Reformation  ; 
for  he  had  no  idea  that  by  his  doctrine  of  religious  lib- 
erty he  was  sending  a  message  throughout  the  whole 
world  that  would  bear  fruit  forever  and  ever.  And 
Lincoln,  when  he  sent  forth  the  proclamation  for  free- 
dom, could  not  have  known  how  his  electric  words 
would  send  a  shock  throughout  the  world,  and  make 
all  tyrants  tremble.  And  so  we  might  go  on  citing 
myriads  of  examples  of  those  whose  lives  were  conse- 
crated simply  to  the  starting  of  truth,  and  who  left  the 
soil  richly  sown  for  others  to  cultivate. 

Look  at  our  Master,  and  do  we  not  behold  a  won- 
derful, a  touching,  and  a  brilliant  example  of  this  pun- 
gent truth  ?  He  came  simply  to  drop  a  few  thoughts 
into  barren  places,  seed-truths,  apparently  very  simple, 
very  modestly  delivered,  seemingly  guarded  by  nothing 
that  promised  perpetuity ;  and  he  left  them  to  their 
fate.  And  a  hard  fate  it  was  to  all  human  appearances  ; 
for  their  Author  was  punished  as  an  outlaw  upon  the 
cross,  and  the  few  who  were  in  any  ways  inclined  to 
favor  his  ideas  were  despised,  down-trodden,  and  scat- 
tered. 

The  literature  of  the  day,  the  politics  of  the  day,  the 
policy  of  the  day,  and  the  religion  of  the  day,  all  these 
and  all  powerful  influences  were  against  the  teachings 
of  Jesus.  And  yet  they  lived,  they  grew,  they  grew 
strong ;  and  then  they  swept  the  world  into  complete 
vassalage,  and  brought  all  the  corners  of  the  earth  into 


PERIOD  OF  REST  AND  LONGWOOD.  1 49 

holy  submission.  They  lived,  although  tyrants  stormed, 
sceptics  derided,  and  sin  in  all  shapes  opposed.  Saint 
Paul  was  one  who  planted.  He  was  a  great  traveller, 
and  wherever  he  went  he  scattered  his  seed-truths.  In 
Jerusalem  and  in  Antioch,  in  Arabia,  in  Rome,  in 
Spain,  and,  as  some  think,  in  England,  he  left  the 
mark  of  his  sacred  presence.  And  he  was  satisfied 
with  this  work,  hard,  unpromising,  and  tedious  as  it  ap- 
peared, and  even  though  he  knew  that  the  fruits  would 
fall  into  the  keeping  of  other  souls.  Yes  :  he  was  glad 
thus  to  lessen  the  labors  of  successors  and  happy  to 
prepare  the  way  for  their  coming,  for  he  had  no  foolish 
pride  about  gathering  up  his  own  harvest ;  and,  as  long 
as  the  harvest  would  come,  that  was  all  for  which  he 
cared,  and  then  he  was  willing  to  go  home  to  God, 
leaving  the  earthly  honors  for  such  as  the  Father 
might  appoint.  So,  my  friends,  it  should  be  with  all 
of  us  who  are  simply  ordered  to  begin  a  work. 

Let  us  not  be  dissatisfied  that  we  leave  the  work  be- 
fore its  full  completion,  and  let  us  be  glad  that  God 
has  given  to  us  any  part  in  the  great  plan  of  life  to  fill ; 
and,  although  we  only  build  the  foundation,  let  us  do 
that  so  gratefully,  so  thoroughly,  and  so  beautifully 
that  it  shall  never  give  way.  When  a  great  many 
years  ago  it  was  announced  that  a  leading  light  and  a 
kingly  soul,  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  had  gone  out,  and 
passed  on,  many  of  us  felt  that  the  call  was  almost  un- 
timely. Just  as  a  new  church  was  built,  a  new  organ 
was  purchased,  fresh  plans  of  charitable  organizations 
were  formed,  and  just  as  the  church  was  beginning  to 
be  stalwart,  and  just  as  the  roses  were  commencing  to 


150  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.   D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

bloom  in  their  gorgeous  beauty,  and  as  the  fragrance 
of  a  noble  success  was  established,  just  then  the  light 
went  out.  But  the  departure  was  not  untimely,  for 
that  young  prophet  filled  out  the  full  measure  of  his 
calling;  and,  although  others  enjoyed  the  splendors  of 
his  achievements,  and  plucked  the  most  exquisite  bou- 
quets out  of  the  garden  of  his  faithful  efforts,  yet  the 
honors,  the  rewards,  and  the  compensations  were  really 
his,  while  no  death  of  the  body  can  take  them  away 
from  him.  But,  while  some  must  plant,  there  are 
others  who,  like  Apollos,  must  nourish  the  planting. 
The  seed  must  be  nourished  as  well  as  sown  ;  ideas 
must  be  received  and  spread,  as  well  as  born  ;  truth 
needs  friends  as  well  as  a  father;  and  so  people  are 
needed  who,  although  not  the  starters  of  thought  or 
work,  are  yet  gentle,  generous,  persistent,  and  cour- 
ageous enough  to  take  it  up  at  the  proper  time,  and 
are  glad  to  give  it  protection,  publicity,  and  power. 
For  the  audience  is  as  important  as  the  actor,  the  ap- 
plause is  as  much  needed  as  the  oration,  and  the 
spoken  word  must  have  some  enthusiastic  admirers 
and  promulgators,  who  are  not  afraid  of  ridicule  or 
abuse,  and  who  can  stand  all  sorts  of  opposition, 
shame,  and  trouble. 

Christianity  is  good  ;  and  yet  Christianity  without 
the  twelve  disciples  and  without  their  successors,  with- 
out a  church  and  without  any  believers,  of  course 
would  be  a  long  while  reaching  its  full  power,  beauty, 
and  glory. 

A  thing  may  be  very  good  in  itself,  and  yet  perfectly 
inoperative,  because  nobody  seems  willing  to  acknowl- 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  151 

edge  its  goodness,  to  cherish  its  power,  and  to  publish 
its  splendor.    • 

Let  not,  then,  those  who  take  up  a  work  that  is 
already  begun  be  despised ;  for  without  them  all  the 
early  efforts  would  be  in  vain.  Saint  Paul  might 
plant  forever ;  but,  without  an  Apollos  to  help  him,  his 
harvest  would  be  meagre,  inoperative,  crushed. 

It  is  said  that  there  are  but  very  few  who  are  willing 
to  begin  a  work,  but  that  many  are  glad  to  take  up  a 
work  or  a  thought  that  is  well  started,  and  that  our 
great  orators,  our  renowned  preachers,  and  our  distin- 
quished  scholars  are  simply  copyists,  unconscious,  it 
may  be,  but  still  none  the  less  photographs,  strong  or 
weak,  of  Demosthenes,  of  Cicero,  and  of  all  the  elo- 
quent ones  of  past  ages.  But  suppose  that  this  be 
really  so :  we  are  none  the  worse  off  on  this  account ; 
and,  in  fact,  we  are  all  the  better  off,  for,  in  this  way, 
all  the  wisdom  of  the  past  ages  is  beautifully  con- 
densed into  the  teachings  of  the  present. 

Why  do  we  allow  our  scholars  of  to-day  freedom 
from  the  active  employments  of  life,  and  the  gift  of 
seclusion  in  their  studies,  if  it  be  not  that  they  may 
ponder  over  the  works  and  the  words  of  other  days, 
and  thus  gain  strength  for  the  present  hour  ? 

We  certainly  do  not  merely  say  to  these  students, 
Make  new  thoughts,  and  strike  out  a  fire  such  as  never 
before  has  been  seen.  If  so,  we  simply  demand  an  im- 
possibility, while  the  result  will  be  not  sense,  but  non- 
sense ;  for,  if  we  want  an  Apollos  to  do  the  work  of  a 
Paul,  we  are  craving  an  impossibility. 

"  God  gives  the  increase."     Planting  and  nourishing 


152  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

amount  to  absolutely  nothing  unless  Almighty  God 
gives  the  incerase ;  and  great  thinkers  may  think  for- 
ever brilliant,  bursting,  and  comprehensive  thoughts, 
and  mighty  appreciators  of  thought  may  catch  up  these 
startling  ideas,  appropriate  them, .  and  publish  them, 
beautifully,  adroitly,  and  eloquently,  with  fascination, 
and  with  unction,  but  all  to  no  possible  purpose,  unless 
Almighty  God  gives  the  increase.  For  results  are 
God's,  not  ours ;  and  the  seed  will  rot  in  the  ground, 
and  all  our  ploughing,  all  our  manuring,  and  all  our 
culturing  will  be  of  no  possible  avail,  and  there  will  be 
no  rich  harvest,  and  no  ripened  corn,  unless  the  breath 
of  the  Almighty  shall  so  order  it. 

The  breath  of  the  Almighty  !  On  this  depends  life 
or  death,  success  or  failure,  joy  or  sorrow.  We  are  to 
do  our  part,  and  we  are  to  be  instant,  in  season  and  out 
of  season ;  but  issues  we  must  very  beautifully,  very 
patiently,  and  very  gloriously  commend  to  the  Infinite 
Will. 

Issues !  Why,  we  have  nothing  whatsoever  to  do 
with  them,  for  they  do  not  come  within  the  circumfer- 
ence of  our  duty;  and  our  anxiety  must  be  wholly  for 
the  present,  our  toil  must  be  this  day,  and  our  prayer 
for  a  better,  a  holier,  and  a  more  useful  life  now,  for 
the  harvest  will  take  care  of  itself. 

"  God  gives  the  increase."  Let  this  truth  be  borne 
always  in  mind,  and  then  will  expectation  be  curbed, 
arrogance  be  chilled,  disappointment  disappear,  and 
our  days  will  be  more  calm,  our  energy  more  persis- 
tent, our  work  more  attractive,  our  whole  existence 
more  brilliant,  suggestive,  and  holy ;  and  we  shall  see 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 53 

how  near  heaven  and  earth  approach  to  each  other, 
and  how  the  hufhan  borders  upon  the  divine. 

But  what  is  the  increase  that  is  given  ? 

Perhaps  the  definition  of  heaven  will  differ  very  much 
from  ours,  for  we  might  call  a  result  an  entire  failure 
when  the  angels  would  label  the  same  as  a  grand  suc- 
cess, or  we  might  imagine  that  we  had  gained  a  joyful 
harvest  when  celestial  spirits  would  be  mourning  the 
thorough  blight  of  our  prospects ;  for  the  arithmetic  of 
the  Eternal  Kingdom  seems  to  differ  very  greatly  from 
our  poor  calculations.  We  weigh  deeds,  but  God 
weighs  motives  ;  and  many  persons  have  seemed  to  our 
frail  judgment  to  have  lived  on  the  earth  to  no  possible 
purpose,  and,  when  their  departure  comes,  we  are  rather 
glad  that  they  are  relieved  from  the  ennui  of  life.  And 
we  call  them  dreamers,  schemers,  idealists,  and  impracti- 
cable men  or  women ;  but  it  may  be  that  in  the  other 
world  they  stand  high  as  saints,  because  they  have  let 
fall,  whilst  sojourning  upon  the  earth,  some  truth  that 
will  germinate,  expand,  blossom,  bear  fruit,  and  prove 
a  glory,  a  power,  and  a  benediction  to  the  children  of 
men.  My  friends,  we  cannot  tell  whether  we  have 
gained  a  harvest  or  not;  and,  whilst  many  of  us  think 
that  we  live  to  no  purpose,  we  may  be  exerting  an  influ- 
ence the  vast  consequences  of  which  no  eternity  can 
ever  exhaust.  We  may  all  of  us,  and  we  do  all  of  us, 
have  our  morbid  seasons,  when  we  think  that  God  made 
a  mistake  in  creating  us,  when  we  say  that  our  little 
life  is  a  very  poor  contribution  to  the  world's  benefit, 
and  when  we  exclaim  that  out  of  us  can  be  gathered 
no  fragrance,  no  flowers,  and  no  fruit. 


154  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

But  I  never  yet  have  seen  a  person,  however  bad, 
whom  somebody  did  not  love ;  and,  if  we  can  only  make 
somebody  love  us,  we  are  living  for  a  grand  purpose. 
Let  us  remember  also  that  very  frequently  those  who 
are  the  most  sensitive,  the  most  depressed,  and  the 
most  cast  down,  are  the  very  ones  who  are  living  to  a 
great  purpose,  whom  large  numbers  respect,  and  whose 
good  words  and  works  are  so  numerous  as  to  be  past 
human  counting.  Often  our  widest  influence  for  good 
is,  on  our  part,  entirely  unconscious. 

We  speak  a  cheering  word  to  some  one  in  despair ; 
and  it  proves  a  grace,  a  glory,  and  a  salvation. 

We  give  timely  aid  to  some  poverty-stricken  brother 
or  sister,  whilst  from  that  very  moment  their  manhood 
or  their  womanhood  begins.  Our  opinion  is  asked  on 
some  complicated  point  of  morals,  and  we  give  it  with- 
out any  thought  as  to  the  result ;  and  it  may  be  that  we 
have  saved  many  souls  from  death,  and  have  added 
spiritual  jewels  to  God's  holy  diadem. 

Let  us,  then,  never  complain  of  uselessness  until  God 
has  shown  to  us  the  whole  plan  of  our  life,  a  list  of  our 
thoughts,  looks,  habits,  words,  and  deeds,  and  a  list  also 
of  the  persons  that  have  been  helped  by  them,  directly 
or  remotely ;  and  not  till  then  shall  we  be  able  to  judge. 

"God  gives  the  increase."  These  words  of  the 
apostle  Paul  would  never  have  been  uttered,  had  not 
his  Master  and  our  Master  illuminated  his  soul ;  for  it 
is  only  through  the  Son  of  God  that  we  obtain  a  sure 
knowledge  of  the  Father. 

Oh,  how  beautifully  he  portrays  the  Eternal  One, 
and  how  he  proves  to  us  God's   benignant   goodness, 


PERIOD    OF    REST    AND    LONGWOOD.  1 55 

untiring  tenderness,  and  comprehensive  love !  If  we 
know  the  great  Teacher  in  the  least,  and  if  we  have 
understood  his  character,  have  been  bathed  in  his 
spirit,  have  been  permeated  by  his  precepts,  have 
beheld  his  cross,  and  have  felt  his  presence,  we  are 
well  aware ;  and  we  cannot  help  believing  that  "  God 
gives  the  increase." 

But,  to  come  to  our  own  church  to-day,  how  could  our 
increase  be  so  great  except  the  good  Father  of  us  all 
had  in  many  ways  brought  about  the  grand  result  ? 
Human  means  of  course  were  used;  but  underneath 
those  means,  all  through  them  and  glorifying  them, 
ought  to  be  traced  the  hand  of  God. 

Of  course,  we  can  give  merely  human  reasons  for  our 
strength.  We  can  say  that  it  was  brought  about  by 
the  migration  of  a  large  number  of  families  to  Brook- 
line,  who  by  accident  have  found  this  church  open  and 
a  welcome  ready;  or  by  the  resignation  of  a  beloved 
and  an  honored  pastor  of  one  of  the  Boston  churches,  so 
that  many  of  his  disciples  living  in  Brookline  wanted  a 
church  home,  and  selected  our  church  as  a  home ;  or 
by  the  sudden  resolve  of  many  families  who  had  made 
no  choice  of  a  place  of  worship,  but  who  felt  that  the 
time  had  come  for  a  choice,  and  joined  us  lovingly  and 
gladly. '  Yes :  we  can  give  many  reasons  for  this  new 
life  of  ours;  but  let  us  never  forget  that  there  has  been 
a  higher  Power  working  all  the  time. 

In  1893  a  few  faithful  families  began  to  attend  ser- 
vice in  this  church,  with  the  determination  to  remain 
here  until  others  came  to  help  ;  and  nearly  all  have  held 
on  bravely  for  years,  —  God  bless  them  !  —  holding  the 


156  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

fort,  till  all  at  once,  last  October,  the  relief  came,  and  a 
solid  phalanx  of  loving  children  of  God  marched  into 
the  pews,  and  said  in  cheering  words,  "  We  have  come  to 
stay."  So  that  with  the  nearly  thirty  families  of  the  old 
members,  and  with  the  large  number  of  recruits,  we 
have  gone  up  into  health  and  prosperity ;  and  I  have 
been  enabled  to  keep  my  pledge,  that  I  would  stay  with 
my  people  till  a  solid  success  should  crown  my  efforts. 

It  is  now  predicted  by  some  of  the  wisest  thinkers 
that  this  society  will  become  one  of  the  strongest  in 
our  denomination  ;  and,  certainly,  this  prophecy  must, 
in  a  very  short  time,  become  an  actual  fact,  if  your 
growth  should  be  as  rapid  as  it  has  been  during  the 
last  six  months,  if  you  should  all  be  bound  together,  as 
you  are  to-day,  in  the  holiest  friendship  and  fellowship, 
and  if,  in  the  choice  of  the  one  who  is  to  take  my  place, 
you  are  able  to  find  a  man  who  will  devote  his  life  to 
your  service,  who  will  count  no  sacrifice  too  great, 
provided  it  be  made  in  your  behalf,  and  who  will  give 
his  whole  soul  and  strength  to  the  people  under  his 
charge. 

As  my  successor  has  not  yet  been  chosen,  you  will 
pardon  me,  I  know,  if  I  should  speak  with  freedom  in 
regard  to  your  choice. 

Do  not  select  a  man  merely  because  a  great  many 
people  tell  you  that  he  is  the  right  person  for  the  place, 
or  because  he  has  a  very  pleasing  appearance  and  many 
attractive  gifts,  or  because  he  has  been  very  successful 
as  an  organizer  of  other  churches,  or  because  he  has 
had  a  very  great  experience,  or  because  he  is  a  young 
man  or  an  old  man  or  in  mid-life,  or  because  he  is  a 


PERIOD  OF  REST  AND  LONGWOOD.  1 57 

distinguished  orator  and  will  draw  crowds  of  people  to 
hear  him  ;  but  select  your  man,/^/  and  mainly \  because 
he  is  upright,  straightforward,  earnest,  devotional,  a 
child  of  God,  a  disciple  of  the  Great  Teacher,  and  full 
of  the  spirit  of  righteousness.  Then  all  the  other  gifts 
that  I  have  mentioned,  added  to  this  one  holy  gift  of 
perfect  consecration,  will  give  you  a  leader  who  will 
stay  with  you  for  years,  and  who  will,  before  two  years 
have  passed  away,  call  into  this  church  such  a  large 
number  of  people  that  every  seat  will  be  taken,  and  all 
hearts  will  be  filled  with  joy,  peace,  and  gratitude. 

You  have  my  best  wishes  for  your  solid  and  holy 
success.  I  cannot  close  without  thanking  you  all  for 
your  great  kindness  to  me,  and  thanking  especially  one 
person,  who  says  that  his  name  must  never  be  known 
during  his  life,  who  has  given  me  his  hearty  sympathy 
and  large  financial  help  during  all  the  years  that  I  have 
been  your  pastor,  and  who  promised  the  same  as  long 
as  I  continued  to  hold  service  in  this  church.  Yes,  I 
thank  him,  and  I  thank  you  all,  over  and  over  again,  for 
your  increasing  loyalty  and  devotion,  the  remembrance 
of  which  will  be  a  choice  benediction  to  me  all  the 
remaining  years  of  my  life ;  and  although,  on  account 
of  my  feeble  health  and  failing  strength,  I  am  obliged 
officially  to  part  from  you,  I  hope  that  nothing  what- 
soever in  the  future  will  break  the  friendship  and  the 
fellowship  that  has  been  so  close,  so  tender,  and  so 
beautiful. 

Almighty  God,  through  his  dear  Son,  bless  you,  one 
and  all ! 


158  IN    M  EM  OR  I  AM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  committee  of  the  church 
to  have  the  parish  elect  Dr.  Bradlee  pastor  emeritus 
of  the  society. 

The  following  notice  was  sent  to  each  member  of  the 
society,  which  was  called  the  Second  Unitarian  Society 
in  Brookline :  — 

To  the  Members  of  the  Second  Unitarian  Society  in  Brookline; 

You  are  requested  to  assemble  in  the  church  immediately  after 
the  service  on  Sunday,  May  2,  1897,  to  take  appropriate  action  on 
the  retirement  of  Dr.  Bradlee  from  the  pastorate  of  this  society, 
and  the  proposition  to  elect  him  pastor  emeritus  of  the  society. 
Per  order  of  the  Prudential  Committee. 

Geo.  P.  Furber,  Clerk. 
April  26,  1897. 

This  proposition  was  known  to  Dr.  Bradlee,  and  was 
a  source  of  great  joy  to  him.  It  had  been  his  wish  that, 
when  the  end  of  his  ministry  came,  it  might  be  his  fort- 
une to  sustain  the  relation  of  pastor  emeritus  to  the 
last  society  over  which  he  had  been  settled. 

The  day  appointed  for  the  conferring  of  this  honor 
was  one  day  too  late.  When  it  arrived,  he  was  gone  to 
the  heavenly  home.  The  end  of  his  Longwood  pastor- 
ate was  the  end  of  his  earthly  ministry. 


IX. 

CLOSING   DAYS. 

FUNERAL   SERVICE.     RESOLUTIONS 

AND    PERSONAL   TRIBUTES 

OF  LOVE  AND    HONOR. 


IX. 
CLOSING   DAYS. 

DR.  BRADLEE'S  service  at  Longwood  was  at  a 
close  on  the  ist  of  May,  1897.  Members  of  his 
family  and  his  many  friends  were  glad  with  him  that 
the  end  of  this  pastorate  had  been  so  glorious,  and 
hoped  that  the  twilight  of  his  life  would  be  long  and 
peaceful.  He  rejoiced  in  the  thought  of  freedom  from 
parish  cares,  and  looked  forward  to  a  period  of  rest. 

He  could  not  be  inactive,  and,  as  was  usual  with  him 
in  times  of  semi-retirement,  was  already  planning  ser- 
vices for  others.  He  was  to  preach  in  Salem  one 
Sunday  in  May  as  a  "  labor  of  love  "  for  his  friend, 
Rev.  Alfred  Manchester,  at  the  Barton  Square  Church, 
and  was  to  officiate  in  the  same  church  on  the  2d  of 
June  at  the  wedding  of  his  namesake,  Miss  Ethel 
Bradlee  Manchester,  and  Mr.  Frank  S.  Perkins.  He 
was  arranging  a  meeting  of  the  Harvard  Divinity  Uni- 
tarian Club  at  his  house. 

On  Sunday,  May  2,  he  was  to  christen  his  little 
grandchild,  Helen  Gay  Smith,  who  was  born  Dec.  14, 
1896,  and  to  whom  he  was  much  attached.  The  ser- 
vice was  to  be  at  his  house,  and  several  members  of  the 
family  were  to  be  present. 

All  of  the  above  engagements  were  very  pleasant 
ones  to  him. 


162  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

On  Saturday,  May  I,  he  was  to  officiate  at  a  funeral 
in  the  church  at  Longwood,  previous  to  which  he 
expected  to  go  to  Boston. 

He  arose  and  went  to  his  breakfast  as  usual  on  Sat- 
urday morning,  but,  after  the  meal  was  over,  complained 
of  a  distress  across  his  chest.  The  trouble  did  not 
yield  to  simple  remedies ;  and  a  physician  was  called, 
who  said  it  was  an  attack  of  indigestion,  and  recom- 
mended a  day  in  bed.  Dr.  Lyon,  of  Brookline,  kindly 
took  charge  of  the  service  at  the  church;  and  the 
patient  kept  quiet.  He  seemed  tired  and  exhausted 
throughout  the  day.  The  evening  paper  was  read  to 
him  ;  and  at  six  o'clock,  after  having  experienced  a 
severe  attack  of  nausea,  he  was  resting  so  quietly  that 
the  family  went  to  dinner,  leaving  him  in  the  care  of  an 
attendant.  A  change  in  his  breathing  alarmed  the 
attendant ;  and  hardly  was  the  serving  of  dinner  com- 
menced before  the  family  were  summoned,  only  to  see 
him  breathe  his  last.  Without  a  struggle,  he  passed 
into  the  heavenly  life.  All  the  members  of  the  family 
witnessed  his  peaceful  departure. 

The  physician  pronounced  the  cause  of  death  to  be 
heart  failure. 

It  did  not  seem  possible  that  the  change  had  come. 

The  sad  news  was  at  once  sent  to  all  who  had  ex- 
pected to  be  present  on  the  morrow  to  take  part  in  the 
happy  occasion  of  the  christening  service. 

All  were  sadly  shocked  at  the  unexpected  news.  No 
one  had  dreamed  that  the  very  day  of  his  release  from 
parish  care  was  to  be  the  day  of  his  translation. 

The  next  day  was  very  stormy.     The  scene  at  Long- 


CLOSING   DAYS.  1 63 

wood  church  was  a  great  contrast  to  that  of  the 
previous  Sunday.  A  small  congregation  gathered.  A 
sense  of  personal  loss  was  over  all.  Rev.  Edward  D. 
Towle,  of  Salem,  a  personal  friend  of  Dr.  Bradlee,  who 
was  afterward  called  to  succeed  him  in  Longwood 
church,  occupied  the  pulpit.  He  referred  most  grace- 
fully and  tenderly  to  the  beloved  minister  who  but 
yesterday  had  ceased  to  be  pastor  of  the  church. 

The  meeting  which  was  to  have  passed  a  resolution 
making  Dr.  Bradlee  pastor  emeritus  of  the  Second 
Unitarian  Church,  Longwood,  Brookline,  voted  reso- 
lutions of  respect  and  loving  sympathy  be  prepared  by 
the  Prudential  Committee. 


FUNERAL   SERVICE. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  on  Wednesday, 
May  5. 

A  brief  service  was  held  at  the  family  residence. 

The  public  services  were  at  2  p.m.,  at  Longwood 
church,  and  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Edward  Everett 
Hale,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  James  De  Normandie. 

The  church  was  beautifully  adorned  with  flowers  and 
growing  -palms  by  the  ladies  of  the  society.  The 
service  was  simple  and  beautiful. 

Dr.  Hale  pronounced  the  eulogy,  saying  in  part:  — 

We  are  together  as  so  many  friends,  each  to  testify  to  the 
love,  respect,  and  the  reverence  with  which  we  regarded  him ;  but 
we  must  not  forget  the  thousands  of  others  who  so  esteem  him. 
No  one  has  been  taken  from  us  who  could  call  together  from  so 


164  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

wide  ranges  of  life  so  many  testimonies  of  love,  respect,  and 
regard  as  Dr.  Bradlee  could.  From  his  earliest  life  he  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  determination  to  give  himself  singly  and  absolutely  to 
the  great  work.  This  he  did,  despite  his  tastes  for  history, 
scientific  investigation,  etc.  Through  his  all-pervading  deter- 
mination that  Christ  should  reign  in  the  world,  he  gained  a 
curious  breadth  in  catholicity. 

Dr.  Hale  expressed  himself  as  having  known  Dr. 
Bradlee  since  boyhood,  and  commented  upon  the  fact 
that  he  had  never  met  him  once  in  the  thousands  of 
times  which  they  were  together  that  this  master-work 
did  not  assert  itself. 

He  had  the  gift  of  organization,  the  happy  faculty  of 
bringing  all  sorts  of  people  together.  He  liked  to  go 
into  difficult  positions  to  organize  a  church,  and  then 
at  the  end  of  several  years  to  relinquish  his  successful 
society  to  his  successor,  and  seek  other  fields  of  organi- 
zation. 

His  life  gave  glory  and  majesty  to  the  grand  old 
conception  of  the  ministry.  His  single  determination 
was  that  he  would  live  for  others  and  for  the  glory  of 
the  kingdom  of  God. 

Miss  Florence  Woods  rendered  "  One  Sweetly  Solemn 
Thought  "  and  "  God  shall  wipe  away  All  Tears." 

The  services  closed  with  the  singing  of  "  Nearer,  my 
God,  to  thee,"  by  the  congregation. 

The  pall-bearers  were  the  Hon.  William  C.  William- 
son and  Henry  C.  Denny,  representing  the  Class  of  '52, 
Harvard  ;  the  Rev.  Alfred  Manchester,  of  Salem,  repre- 
senting Unitarian  ministers  ;  the  Rev.  D.  M.  Wilson, 
representing    the    Boston   Association    of    Ministers ; 


CLOSING    DAYS.  1 65 

George  S.  Burton,  Charles  A.  Brown,  George  Pierce, 
and  Dr.  William  E.  Boardman,  representing  the 
Second  Unitarian  Society  of  Brookline.  The  ushers 
were  Messrs.  Frederick  J.  Smith  and  L.  Wild  Smith. 

The  interment  was  in  the  family  lot  at  Mt.  Auburn. 
The  committal  service  there  was  read  by  the  Rev. 
Alfred  Manchester. 

The  Christian  Register  of  May  5,  1897,  had  the 
following  article :  — 

Caleb  Davis  Bradlee. 

The  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee  died  suddenly  at  his  own  home 
on  Saturday  evening.  With  a  certain  forecast,  as  it  would  seem, 
he  had  preached,  only  on  the  last  Sunday  before,  his  farewell 
sermon  to  the  congregation  at  Christ  Church.  One  wishes  that 
in  the  last  week  he  could  have  heard  all  the  words  of  gratitude 
and  sympathy  which  spoke  of  that  sermon ;  and  we  cannot  but 
believe  that  the  lessons  it  enforces  and  the  encouragement  it  gives 
will  have  worth  all  their  own,  now  that  we  all  know  that  we  are 
not  to  hear  his  voice  again. 

Dr.  Bradlee  has  had  a  peculiar  place  among  our  clergy, 
because  he  had  a  gift  which  is  only  too  rare.  He  had  a  singular 
power  for  the  organization  of  churches, —  for  bringing  people 
together,  and  binding  them  together  for  their  own  religious 
growth  and  for  the  good  of  others.  In  the  first  place,  he  be- 
lieved in  churches  and  their  work  through  and  through ;  and  by 
ways  unknown  to  some  men,  one  would  say,  he  made  other  people 
believe  in  churches.  If  you  heard  that  Dr.  Bradlee  had  expressed 
a  willingness  to  take  any  new  enterprise  in  hand,  you  knew  it 
would  succeed.    • 

Dr.  Bradlee  has  associated  himself  with  the  grateful  memory 
of  many  other  churches.  The  Allen  Street  Congregational 
Church  of  Cambridge ;  the  Church  of  Our  Father,  East  Boston ; 


1 66  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.    BRADLEE,  D.D. 

the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Boston;  the  Christian  Unity  So- 
ciety, Boston;  the  church  at  Harrison  Square;  the  Norfolk 
Street  Church,  Dorchester, —  all  of  them  have  been  indebted  to 
his  fostering  care.  For  the  last  two  or  three  years  he  has  been 
preaching  at  Christ  Church  in  Longwood,  and,  as  has  been  said, 
had  the  great  satisfaction  of  addressing  that  united  and  pros- 
perous congregation  on  the  Sunday  before  his  death.  When  he 
saw  that  a  congregation  was  on  its  feet,  and  was  able  to  provide 
for  itself  as  an  established  congregation  should,  Dr.  Bradlee 
would  withdraw,  would  find  other  fields  for  his  self-sacrificing 
effort,  and  would  add  another  leaf  to  his  laurels. 

Dr.  Bradlee  was  a  cordial  and  liberal  assistant  in  the  best 
works  of  charity  which  go  to  the  bringing  in  of  better  life.  He 
had  great  business  ability,  and  it  was  always  fortunate  if  he 
could  be  enlisted  on  a  board  of  directors  for  work,  however 
monotonous :  you  were  sure  that  that  work  would  be  well  done. 
He  was  a  careful  student,  and  took  especial  interest  in  the  fort- 
unes and  history  of  the  Unitarian  movement.  A  volume  of 
sermons,  which  he  published  not  long  since,  shows  very  clearly 
the  power  by  which  he  held  congregations  together  and  enlarged 
them.  There  is  not  a  more  "  readable  "  book  of  sermons  among 
those  which  have  been  published  in  the  last  fifty  years.  He 
interests  the  hearer  or  the  reader,  and  is  not  tempted  by  any 
temporary  interest  to  speak  upon  petty  subjects. 

Dr.  Bradlee  inherited  from  his  father  an  independent  fortune ; 
but  he  dedicated  his  life,  all  the  same,  to  the  service  of  the 
church,  in  that  communion  in  which  his  conscience  and  faith 
made  him  so  important  a  workman.  For  the  important  service 
which  he  had  rendered  to  our  communion  in  a  hundred  ways  we 
have  all  reason  to  be  grateful. 


CLOSING    DAYS.  1 67 


RESOLUTIONS. 

Out  of  the  great  number  of  resolutions  and  other 
tributes  of  love  and  honor  received  by  the  family  of 
Dr.  Bradlee  from  societies  and  individuals,  a  few  have 
been  selected,  and  are  here  given  :  — 

[Second  Unitarian  Society,  Brookline.] 

At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of 
the  Second  Unitarian  Society  in  Brookline,  held  April 
12,  1897,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  following 
resolutions  be  made  a  matter  of  record,  and  that  a  copy 
of  them  be  sent  to  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee,  D.D. : 

Resolved,  In  accepting  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Caleb  D. 
Bradlee,  the  members  of  the  Prudential  Committee  in  behalf  of 
the  society  express  their  sincere  regret  that  impaired  health  has 
compelled  him  to  relinquish  his  active  connection  with  us  as  pas- 
tor, and  their  appreciation  of  and  deep  sense  of  gratitude  for  his 
zealous,  untiring,  and  gratuitous  labors  during  four  years  in  his 
endeavor  to  bring  together  and  organize  our  society. 

Resolved,  That,  in  recalling  these  labors  on  his  part,  and  the 
well-recognized  obstacles  and  difficulties  which  have  been  met 
and  overcome,  we  realize  that  the  present  satisfactory  condition 
of  our  society,  and, its  apparent  promise  of  increasing  prosperity 
and  usefulness,  are  due  in  large  measure  to  his  wise  and  helpful 
counsels  and  guidance,  to  the  cordial  invitation  and  welcome  which 
he  has  invariably  extended  to  all,  to  the  spirit  of  cordiality  which 
he  has  inspired  and  cultivated  so  assiduously  in  our  relations  one 
to  another,  and  to  his  unabated  confidence  and  belief  in  the  ulti- 
mate success  of  our  united  efforts  to  complete  an  efficient  organ- 
ization for  the  purpose  of  Christian  fellowship  and  worship. 

Resolved,  That,  in  recognition  of  his  valuable  services  and  to 


1 68  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

give  permanent  expression  to  our  esteem  for  him,  we,  the  Pru- 
dential Committee,  do  recommend  that  he  be  invited  to  become 
pastor  emeritus  of  the  society. 

George  S.  Burton,  Chairman. 
(Signed) 

W.  E.  Boardman.  Charles  A.  Brown. 

Charles  W.  Holden.  George  Peirce. 

Clarence  W.  Jones.  Isabel  L.  Williams. 

Elizabeth  G.  Phinney.  Dara  H.  Doane. 

Rebecca  Fales  Peirce.  George  P.  Furber,  Clerk. 

The  following  letter  accompanied  these  resolutions : 

12  Newbury  Street,  Boston, 

May  2,  1S97. 
Mrs.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  Fisher  Avenue,  Brookline,  Mass. : 

Dear  Madam, —  The  enclosed  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
Prudential  Committee  at  its  last  meeting;  and  it  was  the  inten- 
tion of  the  committee  to  have  them  indorsed  by  the  society 
to-day,  and  then  forward  them  with  that  indorsement  to  Dr.  Brad- 
lee. We  all  feel  the  keenest  disappointment  and  regret  that  the 
resolutions  should  not  have  reached  his  hand  with  the  indorse- 
ment intended. 

I  have  thought  it  best,  however,  to  send  them  to  you  in  the 
hope  that  it  will  be  some  comfort  to  his  family  to  receive  this  ex- 
pression of  the  appreciation  and  regard  in  which  Dr.  Bradlee  was 
held  by  all  of  us,  both  those  who  have  been  with  him  in  the  last 
four  years  of  his  pastorate  and  those  who  have  more  recently 
joined  the  society.  Very  respectfully, 

George  P.  Furber,  Clerk. 

[Second  Unitarian  Society,  Brookline.] 

The  following  resolutions  were  sent  to  the  family  of 
Dr.  Bradlee :  — 

In  conforming  with  the  vote  of  the  Second  Unitarian  Society 
in  Brookline,  passed  at  the  meeting  held  May  2,  1897,  the  Pru- 


CLOSING    DAYS.  1 69 

dential   Committee,   unanimously  and   in   behalf  of  the   society, 
present  the  following  resolutions  :  — 

"Whereas  it  has  pleased  our  heavenly  Father  to  remove  by 
death  our  beloved  pastor  and  friend,  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis 
Bradlee,  D.D., 

"Resolved,  That,  while  acknowledging  the  wisdom  of  Divine 
Providence,  we  sincerely  lament  the  loss  of  him  who  had  endeared 
himself  to  us  by  his  zealous  endeavors  and  the  results  which  he 
accomplished  in  the  interest  of  our  society,  by  the  strong  hopes 
which  he  inspired  within  us,  by  the  ties  of  Christian  fellowship 
and  mutual  regard  which  he  diligently  cherished,  and  by  the  recol- 
lection and  knowledge  of  his  many  virtues  which  enabled  him 
from  early  manhood  to  contribute  so  largely  to  *the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  others. 

"  Resolved,  That,  in  the  purity  and  nobility  of  his  character  and 
aims,  his  unaffected  simplicity  of  manner,  his  unselfish  devotion 
to  active  Christian  endeavor,  his  abundant  charity,  his  liberality 
and  kindness  toward  those  who  differed  with  him  in  belief  and 
practice,  and  his  unstinted,  loyal  affection,  we  recognize  virtues 
which  claim  our  reverence  and  which  we  may  well  imitate. 

"  Resolved,  That,  we  shall  feel  most  deeply  the  loss  of  the  prom- 
ised continuance  of  his  association,  interest,  and  aid  ;  and,  inspired 
by  the  recollection  of  his  unfailing  devotion  and  zeal  in  our  behalf, 
we  will  continue,  and  endeavor  to  increase  our  efforts  toward  the 
complete  fulfilment  of  his  cherished  desire  to  establish  a  prosper- 
ous society  for  Christian  worship,  an  abiding  church  home,  and  an 
important  factor  in  the  Unitarian  Association  and  in  the  community. 

"  Accomplishing  these  ends,  we  may  well  feel  that  we  have  erected 
in  remembrance  of  -him,  and  in  his  honor,  a  fitting  and  enduring 
monument. 

"  Resolved,  That  to  his  family,  in  their  deep  sorrow,  we  extend 
our  respectful  sympathy. 

"Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  records 
of  our  society,  and  that  a  copy  of  them  be  sent  to  his  family  by 
the  clerk  of  the  Prudential  Committee. 

Adopted  by  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  Second  Unita- 
rian Society  in  Brookline  at  a  stated  meeting,  May  10,  1897. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest:  George  P.  Furber,  Clerk. 


17°  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

[Boston  Association  of  Ministers.] 

The  following  memorial  tribute  was  presented  by  the 
Rev.  S.  W.  Bush  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Boston 
Association  of  Ministers,  held  in  the  First  Parish 
Church  of  Brighton,  May  10,  1897,  and  was  unani- 
mously adopted  by  a  rising  vote  :  — 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  Caleb  D.  Bradlee,  D.D.,  which  took 
place  on  the  1st  of  May,  has  removed  from  us  one  of  the  most 
loyal  and  devoted  members  of  our  Boston  Association  of  Minis- 
ters ;  and,  on  this  our  first  meeting,  we  would  briefly  recall  the 
memory  of  what  he  was  and  what  he  did. 

Dr.  Bradlee  has  walked  among  us  with  the  sanctity  and  beauty 
of  a  consecrated  life.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  religious  convic- 
tions, and  carried  with  him  wherever  he  went  the  spirit  of  Christ. 
He  loved  the  ministry,  and  gave  himself  to  its  work  with  untiring 
constancy.  He  was  especially  interested  in  the  formation  and 
help  of  new  churches;  and,  as  he  was  not  dependent  upon  his 
salary,  he  gave  his  services  with  disinterested  zeal.  There  are 
now  several  self-supporting  ones  which  owe  their  prosperity  very 
largely  to  his  efforts  in  their  behalf. 

As  a  pastor,  he  was  very  faithful ;  and  his  quick  sympathies 
brought  him  into  close  touch  with  his  parishioners,  and  enabled  him 
in  the  time  of  their  stress  and  sorrow  to  bring  them  the  strength 
and  cheer  of  trust  and  faith. 

His  private  charities  cannot  be  fully  known,  because  he  did  not 
let  his  left  hand  know  what  his  right  hand  was  doing.  But,  now 
that  he  has  passed  away,  many  rise  up  with  grateful  benediction 
as  they  speak  of  his  act  of  personal  kindness.  The  volumes  of 
sermons  he  published  show  that  he  was  most  interested  in  the 
practical  aspects  of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  and  these  discourses 
bear  witness  to  his  ability  and  directness  as  a  preacher. 

He  served  this  Association  faithfully  as  moderator,  and  his 
cordial  hospitality  was  proverbial.  Taken  as  a  whole,  his  life  was 
fragrant  with  good  deeds,  and  his  character  was  brightened  by 
the  sweetness  and  light  of  Him  whom  he  loved  and  followed. 


CLOSING    DAYS.  171 

As  an  evidence  of  our  esteem  and  affection,  be  it 
"  Resolved,  That  the  scribe  be  requested  to  place  on  our  record 
this  testimony  of  our  appreciation  of  his  life  and  character,  and 
also  to  forward  a  copy  to  the  family  of  Dr.  Bradlee  with  the 
expression  of  our  heartfelt  sympathy  for  them  in  their  sorrow,  and 
of  our  trust  that  the  faith  he  preached  and  lived  may  bring  them 
solace  and  peace." 
A  true  copy. 

Attest :  Charles  Gordon  Ames,  Scribe. 

The  following  letter  accompanied  the  resolution  :  — 

My  dear  Mrs.  Bradlee, —  I  cannot  perform  the  official  duty  of 
sending  you  this  tribute  of  the  brethren  to  your  husband's  sacred 
memory  without  adding  a  'personal  word.  It  was  through  our 
being  often  brought  together  while  he  was  moderator  and  I  was 
scribe  that  I  came  to  know  the  man  and  his  qualities,  and  I  seem 
to  know  him  better  still  now.  I  always  see  your  face  in  company 
with  his  ;  and,  now  that  we  may  think  of  the  new  light  that  gathers 
around  his  head,  I  like  to  think  and  wish  that  some  rays  of  that 
light  which  never  fades  away  shine  down  to  glorify  the  shadows 
of  the  world  where  he  has  left  you  for  a  little  time. 

That  he  has  not  been  taken  from  you,  but  rather  given  to  you 
in  a  new  and  blessed  way,  I  am  sure ;  for  you  have  lived  in  a 
common  faith  as  well  as  in  a  common  love. 

God  grant  that  all  your  precious  memories  of  the  years  gone  by 
may  now  change  to  high  and  holy  hope !     For,  surely, 

"  The  best  is  yet  to  be, 
The  last  of  life,  for  which  the  first  was  made. 

Our  times  are  in  His  hand 

Who  saith,  'A  whole  I  planned : 
Youth  shows  but  half.'     Trust  God,  see  all, 
Nor  be  afraid." 

With  cordial  greetings  to  your  daughter  and  her  husband,  I 
desire  to  be  thought  of  as 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

Charles  Gordon  Ames. 
12  Chestnut  Street,  Boston, 
May  11,  1897. 


172  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

[Harvard  College,  Class  of  1852.] 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  20  Lowell  Street, 

July  14,  1897. 
Mrs.  C.  D.  Bradlee: 

Dear  Madam, —  The  Secretary  of  the  Class  of  1852  of  Harvard 
College,  of  which  your  late  husband  was  a  member,  requested  me 
to  convey  to  you  and  family  the  condolence  and  sympathy  of  the 
class  in  the  affliction  which  his  recent  death  has  brought  to  you. 

Be  assured  that  his  classmates  appreciated  his  moral  and  relig- 
ious character.  They  well  remember  his  many  virtues  —  his  fidel- 
ity, his  thoughtfulness,  his  disinterestedness,  and  kindness  —  dur- 
ing the  years  of  his  college  life.  The  same  traits  were  conspicuous 
during  his  long  Christian  ministry,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time 
and  talents. 

We  all  esteem  most  highly  the  memory  of  his  useful  life  in  the 
profession  in  which  he  was  so  successful,  and  to  which  he  conse- 
crated his  ability  in  so  many  ways. 

Allow  me  to  add  that  it  was  my  privilege  to  know  him  person- 
ally during  these  many  years,  and  it  was  always  a  great  pleasure 
to  receive  his  warm  and  genial  greeting. 

In  expressing  to  you  our  sympathy,  I  voice  the  sentiment  of  the 
class  in  saying  that  he  merited  at  last  the  Master's  benediction, 
"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant !  " 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Charles  C.  Vinal, 

Class  of  1852. 

[New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Society.] 

Marshall  P.  Wilder  Hall,  18  Somerset  Street, 

Boston,  Mass.,  June  2,  1897. 
At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical 
Society,  held  this  day,  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee, 
Ph.D.,  D.D.,   being  announced,   the   following  resolutions   were 
unanimously  passed :  — 

"Resolved,  That  this  society  bears  witness  to  the  faithful  and 
valuable  services  rendered  to  it  by  the  Rev.  Caleb  Davis  Bradlee, 


CLOSING    DAYS.  1 73 

Ph.D.,  D.D.,  of  Brookline,  who  held  successively  the  offices  of 
Corresponding  and  of  Recording  Secretary,  and  who  for  twenty- 
eight  years  was  a  member  of  our  Board  of  Directors.  In  every 
position  he  was  always  ready  to  aid  the  society  by  every  means 
in  his  power. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  honor  the  memory  of  Dr.  Bradlee  for  the 
noble  work  he  did  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, into  which  he  entered  with  earnestness  and  zeal,  laboring 
to  promote  the  religious  and  moral  welfare  of  his  parishioners  in 
the  several  parishes  over  which  during  his  life  he  was  pastor, 
some  of  which  he  built  up  from  feeble  congregations  to  self-sup- 
porting churches. 

"Resolved,  That  by  his  writings,  and  particularly  by  the  two 
volumes  of  sermons  which  he  published,  he  won  for  himself  a 
place  among  the  authors  of  New  England. 

u  Resolved,  That  we  would  express  our  gratitude  for  his  liberal 
bequest  to  our  funds,  which  will  greatly  aid  us  in  carrying  on  the 
work  in  which  we  are  engaged. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the  widow 
of  Dr.  Bradlee." 

From  the  minutes, 

Attest:        George  A.  Gordon, 

Recording  Secretary. 


X. 
PERSONAL   TRAITS. 


X. 

PERSONAL   TRAITS. 

DR.  BRADLEE  was  a  good  student  from  the  days 
of  his  youth  on  through  his  active  life.  His 
mind  was  synthetic  rather  than  analytic.  He  was 
rather  impatient  of  details,  and  intuitively  grasped  con- 
clusions that  were  afterward  verified  in  his  experience 
and  in  that  of  other  men. 

God,  Christ,  duty,  and  immortality  were  divine  real- 
ities in  his  thought ;  and  he  had  the  power  of  carrying 
his  convictions  into  the  hearts  and  lives  of  others. 
His  religion  was  to  love  God  and  man.  His  sermons 
were  practical  rather  than  theological. 

Many  souls  were  deeply  touched  by  his  preaching ; 
and  he  received  many  confessions  of  personal  indebted- 
ness for  new  hopes  and  better  life  from  those  who  had 
been  helped  by  his  spoken  word.  After  the  sermon 
came  always  the  warm  grasp  of  the  hand  and  some 
word  fitted  to  make  a  special  impression  on  the  indi- 
vidual. ' 

He  was  always  particularly  interested  in  historical 
and  philosophical  studies.  His  classical  knowledge 
was  full  and  accurate,  and  he  read  and  wrote  French 
and  Italian  with  some  fluency. 

In  his  reading,  he  was  much  given  to  biography  and 
to  sermons  of  the  masters  in  the  pulpit,  both  ancient 


178  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

and  modern.  He  cared  less  than  many  do  for  scien- 
tific studies,  and  yet  was  well  informed  as  to  the  trend 
of  modern  thought. 

He  read  in  the  line  of  the  higher  criticism  to  some 
extent,  but  cared  little  for  the  details  of  that  science, 
being  convinced  of  the  reality  of  the  great  life  revealed 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  finding  its  consumma- 
tion in  Jesus  Christ. 

He  held  tenaciously  to  certain  views  in  theology 
which  seemed  to  him  essential ;  but  he  did  not  withhold 
his  fellowship  from  any  who  had  other  views.  However 
much  Dr.  Bradlee  might  differ  in  opinion  from  any  one, 
whether  in  business  affairs,  church  polity,  or  theolog- 
ical belief,  he  held  personal  friendship  and  human  sym- 
pathy with  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  Speak- 
ing of  one  with  whom  he  disagreed  regarding  some 
business  proposition,  he  says,  "Well,  if  we  do  not 
understand  one  another,  we  can  love  one  another ;  and 
the  points  of  difference  will  be  consigned  to  an  eternal 
oblivion." 

To  another,  while  discussing  some  plans  about  which 
they  differed,  he  wrote,  "  Let  it  be  clearly  understood, 
at  once,  now  and  forever,  that  between  you  and  me 
personally  there  can  be  nothing  but  the  most  cordial 
fellowship." 

This  trait  in  his  character  is  well  illustrated  in  what 
he  said  in  the  "  Recollections  "  :  — 

"But,  comparing  the  clergy  of  to-day  with  the 
clergy  of  the  past,  I  have  no  reason  for  complaint. 
Better  men  never  lived  than  those  who  occupy  our 
pulpits  in  this  the  latter  part  of  the  nineteenth  century, 


PERSONAL    TRAITS.  1 79 

—  honest,  true,  loyal,  self-sacrificing,  noble  men,  who 
would  give  up  life  rather  than  give  up  what  seems  to 
them  to  be  the  truth,  who  do  give  up  life  for  other 
people  by  their  overwork,  by  their  large  sympathy,  by 
their  loving  hearts,  by  their  generous  gifts,  by  their 
always  helping  hand,  so  that  a  great  many  of  our  breth- 
ren by  excessive  labors  and  by  large  charities  have  be- 
come so  enfeebled  and  so  prostrated  that  they  have 
finally  surrendered  their  lives  to  their  loyalty. 

"I  honor  my  brethren  of  to-day.  I  may  not  think 
as  they  think,  I  may  not  see  as  they  see,  I  may  not 
work  as  they  work,  I  may  be  too  tied  to  the  past,  I 
may  be  too  bound  to  ceremony,  I  may  like,  more  than 
they  do,  confessions  and  prostrations  and  forms ;  but 
I  bow  before  them  with  reverence  for  their  manliness, 
for  their  love  of  human  nature,  for  their  steady  adher- 
ence to  principle,  for  their  study  of  the  religions  of  all 
ages,  for  their  cordial  acknowledgment  of  the  good  in 
all  religions,  for  their  philanthropy,  for  their  devotion 
to  righteous  living,  and  for  all  about  them  that  is  strik- 
ingly sound  and  really  glorious." 

Dr.  Bradlee  was  extremely  sympathetic  in  his  dispo- 
sition. All  sorrow  appealed  to  him,  and  the  trials  of 
his  friends  were  borne  as  if  they  were  his  own. 

He  was  especially  sought  for  in  cases  of  bereave- 
ment, and  always  had  the  right  word  to  speak.  His 
very  presence  in  the  house  of  mourning  threw  light 
upon  the  cloud ;  and,  of  those  who  read  these  words, 
many  will  remember  the  days  upon  which  he  entered 
their  homes  to  speak  words  of  comfort  and  peace  such 
as  are  given  to  few  to  utter. 


l8o  IN    MEMORIAM  J    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

To  many  stricken  hearts  he  wrote  words  like  the  fol- 
lowing :  — 

"  Our  hearts  are  with  you  in  this  hour  of  your  great 
sorrow;  and  may  the  dear  Father  of  us  all  have  you 
in  his  holy  keeping,  and  send  to  you  a  peace  and  a 
strength  and  a  resignation  that  will  never  pass  away. 

"  How  many  are  the  changes  that  greet  us  in  our 
mortal  pilgrimage!  And  yet,  if  we  have  faith,  how 
surely  shall  we  find  that  '  underneath  are  the  everlast- 
ing arms'!  and  how  much  of  comfort  there  is  in  the 
words  of  the  blessed  Redeemer,  ■  Lo !  I  am  with  you 
always,  even  unto  the  end  "  ! 

He  attended  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four  funerals 
in  the  course  of  his  ministry,  and  officiated  at  exactly 
the  same  number  of  baptisms.  He  also  officiated  at 
three  hundred  and  forty  weddings.  Thus  he  was 
brought  into  close  relations  with  many  families  outside 
as  well  as  within  the  limits  of  his  several  parishes. 

He  assumed  no  clerical  dress,  but  was  at  once  rec- 
ognized by  those  who  met  him  as  a  minister  of  relig- 
ion; and  many,  on  very  short  acquaintance,  came  to 
regard  him  as  one  in  whom  they  would  find  sympathy 
with  their  highest  aspirations  and  a  power  of  help  in 
their  deepest  need. 

With  the  exception  of  brief  summer  vacations,  Dr. 
Bradlee  was  always  at  home.  A  visitor  would  always 
find  him  there,  or,  if  absent,  it  was  only  for  a  few  hours 
of  parish  calls  or  special  services.  His  health  did  not 
permit  him  to  go  and  come  as  most  public  men  do. 
He  was  contented  to  be  surrounded  by  his  family  and 
friends.     Here  he  sustained  the  most  tender  relations, 


PERSONAL    TRAITS.  l8l 

known  only  to  those  who  had  the  freedom  of  the  home. 
In  conversation  he  was  bright  and  cheerful,  and  a 
hearty  laugh  was  not  uncommonly  heard. 

Although  Dr.  Bradlee  was  not  permitted  to  mingle 
freely  with  his  ministerial  brethren  or  to  attend  many 
of  their  public  gatherings  on  account  of  his  feeble 
health,  he  was  interested  in  all  that  concerned  them, 
kept  thoroughly  informed  of  their  pastoral  changes,  re- 
joiced in  their  successes,  and  sympathized  with  them  in 
their  reverses.  Nothing  touched  him  more  deeply 
than  sudden  misfortune  befalling  a  minister  or  his  fam- 
ily, and  his  purse  was  always  open  for  liberal  contribu- 
tions to  aid  any  of  the  ministerial  fellowship  whose 
need  was  brought  to  his  notice.  In  such  cases  he  did 
not  wish  his  name  to  appear,  and  would  write  when  he 
sent  his  gift :  "  If  you  receive  this,  please  say  nothing 
about  it  to  me  or  to  any  one.  Please  simply  write  on 
a  postal  to  my  address,  '  The  weather  has  been  fine 
of  late.'  " 

In  all  his  charity  he  tried,  so  far  as  it  was  possible, 
to  keep  the  one  hand  from  knowing  what  the  other 
hand  did.  While  he  made  a  note  of  sums  given  away 
in  case  he  should  ever  wish  to  refer  to  the  account,  he 
never  reckoned  up  the  amount  given,  and  said  he  did 
not  wish  to  know.  In  the  course  of  the  last  thirty 
years  of  his  life  many  thousands  of  dollars  were  thus 
given  away. 

His  tastes  and  habits  of  life  were  simple.  He  wanted 
others  to  have  everything  they  wished  for  which  it  was 
right  for  them  to  have,  but  for  himself  he  wanted  little. 
After  serious  losses  in  the  great  Boston  fire  in  1872 


l82  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

his  only  regret  was  that  for  a  time  the  list  of  his  chari- 
ties must  be  curtailed.  No  life  was  ever  lived  on  this 
earth  that  presents  a  better  illustration  of  altruism  than 
does  his  own.  He  held  his  fortune  as  a  trust  from 
God,  of  which  he  was  a  steward.  His  faithfulness  to 
this  idea  was  shown  both  in  his  use  of  it  while  he  lived 
and  the  disposition  of  it  which  he  made  by  his  will. 

Hospitality  was  one  of  his  prominent  characteristics. 
"The  latch-string  is  always  out,"  was  one  of  his  favor- 
ite sayings.     He  delighted  to  entertain  his  friends. 

There  were  some  of  his  younger  ministerial  friends 
to  whom  his  house  was  opened  with  great  freedom. 
There  was  always  a  "prophet's  chamber"  to  which 
they  were  welcome,  and  a  seat  at  table  always  awaited 
them. 

His  summer  outings  were  never  enjoyed  alone.  In 
addition  to  his  own  family,  others  were  usually  invited 
to  accompany  him  ;  and  thus  many  have  unexpectedly 
enjoyed  a  vacation  at  Bar  Harbor,  Delaware  Water 
Gap,  White  Mountains,  Newport,  and  elsewhere.  On 
such  occasions  the  hospitality  was  most  abundant. 
The  "Bradlee  Party"  was  always  regarded  as  espe- 
cially fortunate  by  the  guests  of  any  hotel  where  it  was 
entertained. 

Young  men,  and  especially  those  who  were  about  to 
enter  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  were  very  interest- 
ing to  him.  He  invited  many  of  them  to  his  home, 
and  in  many  ways  showed  a  fatherly  interest  in  all  that 
concerned  them.  His  interest  in  such  young  men  was 
deepened  if  he  found  that  they  were  poor  or  lacking  in 
social  privileges.     He  never  went  to  concert  or  other 


PERSONAL    TRAITS.  1 83 

public  entertainments,  feeling  that  he  must  husband  his 
strength  for  the  duties  to  the  performance  of  which  he 
was  pledged ;  but  he  was  constantly  making  it  possible 
for  others  to  enjoy  such  entertainments. 

Children  loved  him,  and  were  loved  by  him.  Shy 
little  ones  soon  learned  to  trust  in  him,"  and  sat  on  his 
knee,  listening  to  his  stories  or  droll  imitations.  With 
something  of  the  ventriloquist's  art,  he  made  their  dolls 
talk  to  them,  and  soon  enlisted  their  utter  confidence 
and  gained  their  lasting  friendship. 

Dr.  Bradlee  was  full  of  charity  for  the  wrong-doer. 
He  distinguished  between  the  sin  and  the  sinner,  and 
his  contempt  for  the  one  never  overcame  his  love  for 
the  other.  He  regarded  his  own  conduct  with  refer- 
ence to  the  strictest  law  of  righteousness.  He  was,  if 
anything,  over-conscientious.  He  always  gave  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt  to  the  other  person,  and  held  him- 
self amenable  to  the  most  searching  judgment.  He 
abhorred  debt,  and,  if  possible,  would  never  have  slept 
a  single  night  in  debt  to  any  one.  He  was  willing  to 
give  others  more  than  their  due,  but  sometimes  would 
not  receive  for  himself  what  others  considered  his  just 
dues. 

He  was  an  early  riser,  being  found  at  his  desk  regu- 
larly for  many  years  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
He  liked  to  work  when  all  was  still  about  him,  and 
these  early  morning  hours  were  filled  with  labor.  His 
correspondence  was  very  large,  not  only  with  indivi- 
duals, but  with  libraries  and  societies. 

All  through  the  day  hints  and  suggestions  of  what 
was  to  be  done  on  the  following  morning  were  written 


184  in  memoriam:  c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

on  slips  of  paper  and  placed  in  his  hat,  which  was 
always  on  the  study  table.  He  was  exceedingly 
prompt  as  a  correspondent  and  in  all  his  business  rela- 
tions. He  was  a  wise  counsellor  in  financial  matters, 
and  in  many  ways  disclosed  the  possession  of  faculties 
the  exercise  of  which  made  him  a  successful  business 
man.  This  ability  he  inherited  from  a  line  of  ancestry 
full  of  sagacity  and  integrity. 

"  Cordially,"  —  so  he  signed  his  letters.  It  was  more 
than  a  conventional  term  to  him.  It  is  the  expression 
of  his  character.  So  he  lived,  and  so  he  labored,  in  his 
family  and  in  the  world, —  to  the  glory  of  God,  in  the 
name  of  his  Master,  for  the  good  of  all. 


XI. 
SOCIETIES. 


XI. 
SOCIETIES. 

EARLY  in  life  Dr.  Bradlee  became  interested  in 
the  work  of  historical  societies,  and  from  that 
beginning  his  interest  grew  in  regard  to  the  great  lit- 
erary societies  of  the  world.  He  was  a  member  of 
more  than  fifty  societies  of  this  character,  and  was  in 
active  correspondence  with  all  of  them,  and  made  them 
the  means  of  distributing  literature  and  giving  informa- 
tion of  an  interesting  character. 

Besides  many  which  are  not  mentioned  here,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  following  societies  :  — 

Royal  Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries,  Copenhagen, 
Denmark ; 

Royal  Asiatic  Society,  China,  Branch  Shanghai ; 

Victoria  Institute  or  Philosophical  Society  of  Great 
Britain  ; 

And  the  following  historical  societies  in  the  United 
States :  New  England,  Rhode  Island,  Vermont,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Chicago, 
Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Virginia,  Georgia,  Tennessee,  Kan- 
sas, Minnesota,  Old  Colony,  Dedham,  Long  Island, 
Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.,  etc. 

He  was  also  in  correspondence  with  the  librarians  of 
a  great  number  of  libraries  both  in  America  and  in 
Europe,  and  was  constantly  giving  books  to  libraries. 


l88  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

They  were  sent  by  fifties  and  hundreds.  In  course  of 
his  lifetime  he  gave  away  enough  books  to  have  made 
an  enviable  private  library.  They  were  books  of 
great  value,  both  ancient  and  modern.  His  feeling  was 
that  great  libraries  were  the  proper  depositories  for 
valuable  books. 

He  was  not  a  member  of  any  secret  societies,  but  had 
great  sympathy  with  all  the  noble  principles  which 
underlie  them.  He  found  his  social  fellowship  with 
the  Boston  Association  of  Ministers,  the  Ministers' 
League,  and  the  Harvard  Divinity  Unitarian  Club. 
These  societies  he  regularly  entertained  at  his  house, 
giving  most  delightful  hospitality,  counting  no  expense 
of  time  or  money  too  great,  if  only  his  brethren  were 
handsomely  cared  for. 

He  regretted  that  the  state  of  his  health  would  not 
allow  him  to  mingle  more  freely  than  he  did  with  his 
brother  ministers,  but  he  kept  up  his  fellowship  by  his 
frequent  welcome  so  generously  extended  to  them  in 
his  own  house. 

Whenever  he  felt  able,  he  went  to  the  meetings  of 
the  Boston  Association  of  Ministers.  It  was  from  this 
body  that  he  obtained  his  first  license  to  preach ;  and 
he  was  honored  by  an  election  to  the  moderatorship 
two  successive  years,  which  was  all  that  the  by-laws 
allowed. 

The  meetings  of  this  Association  which  were  held  at 
his  house  on  the  second  Monday  in  January  for  many 
years  were  much  enjoyed,  notably  so  the  one  on  Jan. 
II,  1892,  when,  as  a  result  of  his  solicitation,  a  loving- 
cup  was   presented   by  the   Association   to    the   Rev. 


SOCIETIES.  189 

Brooke  Herford,  D.D.,  who  was  about  to  leave  Arling- 
ton Street  Church,  Boston,  for  London,  to  take  charge 
of  a  new  church. 

It  was  at  such  a  meeting,  Jan.  14,  1895,  that  he  read 
his  "  Recollections  of  a  ministry  of  forty  years." 

He  was  connected  with  a  great  many  of  the  chari- 
table societies  of  Boston,  being  a  life  member  of 
several. 

He  was  for  a  year  President  of  the  Tremont  Dispen- 
sary. 

The  charity  which  most  appealed  to  him  was  the 
Home  for  Aged  Couples.  His  sympathy  with  the  aged 
was  always  very  tender,  and  he  specially  prized  an 
institution  which  had  for  its  object  the  continuance  of 
the  marriage  relation  with  no  separation  until  death 
between  those  who  were  in  need  of  help. 

He  wrote, — 

Remember  the  aged,  so  that  all  through  their  life, 
They  may  still  keep  together  as  husband  and  wife. 

He  became  a  life  member  of  this  institution  in  1885  ; 
and,  as  a  member  of  its  council  and  as  chaplain,  he 
was  of  invaluable  assistance  to  the  work  it  was  doing. 
He  spoke  in  its  interests  in  public  and  in  private,  as- 
sisted generously  in  all  its  financial  enterprises,  fur- 
nished a  "  Bradlee  Room  "  in  the  home,  and  in  many 
other  ways  showed  an  undying  interest  in  its  affairs. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  president 
of  the  Home  for  Aged  Couples  March  5,  1888,  indi- 
cates the  close  relation  which  Dr.  Bradlee  sustained 
with  this  worthy  charity  :  — 


190  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Having  been  honored,  by  vote  of  the  trustees,  to  convey  in 
warmest  terms  their  sentiments  of  affection  and  respect,  I  esteem 
it  a  privilege,  and  am  greatly  pleased  to  unite  with  them  in  ex- 
pressing gratitude  for  your  untiring  and  disinterested  efforts  to 
advocate  and  advance  the  interests  of  the  home ;  for  your  valu- 
able services  as  a  member  of  the  Corporation  and  Board  of 
Council;  for  your  tender  thoughtfulness  and  Christian  sympathy, 
love,  and  kindness,  as  adviser,  friend,  coworker,  and  beloved 
clergyman. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  American  Authors'  Guild  ; 
and  one  of  the  few  times  that  he  ever  went  out  of  town 
to  a  society  meeting  was  when  he  went  to  a  meeting  of 
this  Guild  in  Salem,  Mass.,  May  5,  1894,  when  the 
Salem  Thought  and  Work  Club  gave  an  Authors' 
Breakfast,  to  which  the  members  of  the  Guild  were 
invited. 

He  was  asked  to  be  a  trustee  of  Galesville  Univer- 
sity in  May,  1895  ;  but  on  account  of  ill-health  he  was 
not  able  at  that  time  to  increase  his  duties. 

The  appeals  which  came  to  him  for  financial  help 
from  societies  as  well  as  individuals  were  numerous, 
and  to  have  answered  all  of  them  would  have  taxed  the 
income  of  a  multi-millionaire. 

He  was  careful  to  give  through  well-organized  socie- 
ties or  to  individuals  whose  needs  were  personally 
known   to  him. 


XII. 
PUBLICATIONS. 


XII. 
PUBLICATIONS. 

DR.    BRADLEE    published    as    follows :   Sermon 
after  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Pike,  1863. 

Sermon  after  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  1865. 

Sermon  after  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Ezra  S.  Gannett, 
D.D.,  1871. 

Farewell  Sermon,  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  1872. 

First  Sermon  to  the  Church  of  the  Good  Samaritan, 
Christian  Unity  Society,  1872. 

Sermon   after  the   death   of    Millard   Fillmore   and 
Charles  Sumner,  1874. 

Sermon,  "The  Teaching  of  the  Mountains,"  1876. 

Sermon,  "The  Grand  Hereafter,"  1877. 

Sermon,  "Natural  and  Revealed  Religion,"  1878. 

Sermon,  "Recognition  of  Friends  in  Heaven,"  1878. 

A  Slight  Sketch  of  the  History  of  Harrison  Square 
Church,  1878. 

Poems,  Series  No.  1,  1880. 

"     '      "        "     2,  1880. 

"     3,  1881. 

Sermon  after  the  death  of  Francis  Humphreys  and 
Miss  Mary  C.  Bispham. 

Brief  Memoir  of  George  H.  Gay,  M.D. 

Sermon,  "Jesus  Christ  Eternally  Alive,"  ii 

Volume  of  "Sermons  for  All  Sects,"  1888. 


194  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Volume  of  "Sermons  for  the  Church,"  1893. 

The  manuscript  was  ready  for  a  volume  of  sermons 
to  be  published  in  1898,  to  be  called  "A  Voice  from 
the  Pulpit." 


XIII. 
POEMS. 


XIII. 
POEMS. 

IN  1875  Dr.  Bradlee  began  to  write  poems,  which 
appeared  now  and  then  in  the  newspapers.  The 
birthday  or  other  anniversaries  in  the  lives  of  his 
friends,  the  death  of  prominent  people,  the  striking 
events  of  parish  life,  the  course  of  his  reading,  or  the 
impulse  of  his  religious  nature,  furnished  frequent 
occasion  for  this  sort  of  writing;  and  in  1880  two 
small  books  of  poems,  first  and  second  series,  were 
published,  to  be  followed  in  1881  by  thegthird  series. 
In  the  July  number  of  the  Magazine  of  Poetry  for 
1 89 1  Judge  Frederick  W.  Ricord,  of  Newark,  N.J., 
published  an  article  on  Dr.  Bradlee ;  and  eight  pieces 
of  his  poetry  were  quoted.  A  few  poems  are  given 
here,  some  of  which  have  been  previously  printed, 
while  others  are  selected  from  manuscript  prepared 
in  anticipation  of  publishing  a  fourth  series. 

GOD    KNOWS   BEST. 

My  God  knows  best !  Through  all  my  days 

This  is  my  comfort  and  my  rest, 
My  trust,  my  peace,  my  solemn  praise, — 

That  God  knows  all,  and  God  knows  best. 

My  God  knows  best !     That  is  my  chart, 
This  thought  to  me  is  always  blest ; 


198  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

It  hallows  and  it  soothes  my  heart, 
For  all  is  well,  and  God  knows  best. 

My  God  knows  best !    Then  tears  may  fall ; 

In  his  great  heart  I'll  find  my  nest; 
For  he,  my  God,  is  over  all, 

And  he  is  love,  and  he  knows  best. 


HOLY   WAITING   FOR   THE   RIGHT. 

Wait !  thou  canst  not  know  thy  fate, 
The  hidden  things  that  lie  deep 

In  the  councils  of  God's  state, 
While  we  wake  and  while  we  sleep. 

A  weaving  is  round  the  throne 
Of  our  blessings  true  and  pure ; 

To  mortal  ears  now  unknown, 
In  the  future  all  secure. 

The  Almighty's  plans  are  grand, 
But  are  hidden  from  our  sight ; 

Of  us  all  does  he  command 
Holy  waiting  for  the  right. 


"WHO   SHALL   BE   GREATEST?" 

"  Who  shall  be  greatest  ? "  so  asked  they  of  old ; 

And  honors  they  craved,  that  fast  fade  away. 
"  Who  shall  be  greatest ?  "     Ah !   soon  were  they  told; 

For  Christ  took  a  child,  and  answered  that  way. 

"  Who  shall  be  greatest  ? "     The  thought  comes  to  all 
Who  prizes  would  seize  in  this  world  of  woe, 

Not  knowing  the  clouds  that  sure  will  befall 

Souls  that  on  bubbles  their  strength  would  bestow. 


POEMS. 

"  Who  shall  be  greatest  ?  "     The  proud  ones,  who  cry- 
That  power  and  fame  on  their  lives  shall  be  cast ; 

And  souls  that  seem  small,  that  only  rely 

On  wealth  they  call  sure  and  free  from  a  blast? 

Not  'those  who  for  self  put  all  others  down, 

That  they  in  their  pride  may  take  the  large  share, 

Have  all  the  prizes,  and  wear  the  gold  crown, 
And  care  not  for  pain  their  victims  must  bear. 

For  such  are  the  ones  we  cannot  call  great: 
The  good  ones  alone  can  conquer  the  earth. 

On  them  bright  angels  with  banners  do  wait; 
And  music  from  heaven  will  greet  their  new  birth. 


IN    MEMORIAM:    HON.    HENRY   W.    LONG- 
FELLOW,  LL.D. 

How  vain  are  human  words  to  tell 
How  human  words  have  left  a  spell 
On  grateful  hearts  all  round  the  earth, — 
Words  welcomed  from  their  very  birth  ! 

And  can  the  soul  that  now  is  still 
No  more  the  world  with  music  fill? 
And  will  the  voice  so  strong  and  sweet 
No  more  the  world's  best  wishes  meet  ? 

We  know  that  soulwWl  never  end, 
And,  day  by  day,  a  charm  will  send 
On  all  the  souls  that  God  has  given, — 
A  voice  of  power  direct  from  heaven. 


199 


2C0  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 


HON.   ROBERT   C.   WINTHROP,   LL.D. 

1809—80—1889. 
May  12. 

Statesman,  Historian,  and  Friend, 

Orator,  Patriot,  and  Sage, 
To  thee  the  sons  of  Boston  bend ; 

In  youth,  their  star;  their  pride  in  age. 

The  hand  of  time  you  have  defied, 
Are  still  a  light  thoughout  the  land, 

Webster's  friend  and  Everett's  pride, 
With  all  the  great  will  ever  stand. 

And  Europe,  too,  has  heard  your  name, 

And  good  men  there  speak  out  their  praise ; 

Your  thoughts  and  words  have  spread  a  flame ; 
Our  hearts  are  blest :  we  paeans  raise. 

And  now  this  birthday  eighty  years 

You  count !     Your  work  most  bravely  done ! 

A  man  of  truth,  and  freed  from  fears ; 
Honored  and  loved  by  every  one. 

All  hail  to-day !     Long  may  it  be 
Ere  you  are  called  away  from  earth, 

May  many  honors  come  to  thee 
Before  above  you  find  your  birth. 


O.   W.   HOLMES. 

1809—80—1889. 
August  29. 

Our  hearts  to  thee  in  joy  do  turn, 
Whose  words  in  all  our  hearts  do  burn,- 
Words  full  of  love  and  peace  and  light, 
Pleading  for  truth,  and  strong  for  right. 


POEMS.  201 

As  eighty  years  do  bless  your  life, 
Years  filled  with  joy  and  freed  from  strife, 
All  through  the  world  do  souls  rejoice 
That  still  on  earth  is  heard  your  voice. 

"  Ay,  tear  her  tattered  ensign  down," 
Brought  sixty  years  ago  a  crown ; 
And  ever  since  your  poems  strong, 
As  richest  gems,  to  us  belong. 

And  science,  too,  will  chaplets  give, 
Because  you  teach  us  how  to  live, 
How  health  to  keep,  and  strength  secure, 
And  all  our  daily  cares  endure. 

And  letters  bow  to  thee  as  friend; 
Your  praises  everywhere  extend  ; 
And  all  at  home  and  all  abroad 
To  you  give  thanks  with  grand  accord. 

America's  and  England's  son 

The  world  would  crown  thee,  cherished  one  ! 

All  hail!  the  grateful  people  say, 

As  eighty  years  you  greet  this  day. 


NO    TIME    FOR   ANYTHING. 

[A  young  lady  said  that  she  had  no  time  for  anything  ;  and  this  poem 
was  written  as  an  answer  to  her,  and  to  all  who  feel  in  the  same  way.] 

Time  for  nothing, —  can  it  be  so? 
Now  please  answer  me,  yes  or  no. 
No  time  for  God,  no  time  for  man, 
And  are  you  doing  all  you  can  ? 

What  hours  are  wasted,  thrown  away, 
So  that  each  week  you  lose  a  day? 
What  time  is  given  to  useless  things. 
That  no  blessing  or  profit  brings  ? 


202  IN    MEMORIAM  ',    C.  D.    BRADLEE,  D.D. 

At  what  hour  do  you  rise  at  morn, 
And  yourself  for  your  work  adorn? 
What  days  to  pleasure  do  you  give? 
Is  it  for  joy  alone  you  live  ? 

I  really  think  you've  time  to  spare, 
If  you  each  hour  will  plan  with  care, 
And  keep  your  faith  all  firm  in  God, 
And  lean  upon  his  staff  and  rod. 

Time  enough,  if  all  time  we  bless, 
And  waste  of  time  to  God  confess ; 
For  then  our  work  will  well  be  done, 
And  life's  true  battles  grandly  won. 


A   SICK   PERSON'S    PRAYER. 

Lord,  cure  me  by  thy  healing  hand, 
Thy  gracious  aid  bring  near ; 

And  all  my  pains  wilt  thou  command 
At  once  to  disappear. 

Spare  thou  my  life  for  many  years, 

All  weakness  take  away, 
Anoint  my  hopes,  dismiss  my  fears, 

Thy  holy  power  display. 

And  when  I  shall  again  get  well, 
And  feel  my  strength  return, 

All  foolish  doubts  wilt  thou  dispel ; 
Let  faith  within  me  burn. 

Refresh  my  heart  and  bless  my  will, 
And  make  me  wholly  thine ; 

And  daily  on  my  soul  distil 
Thy  holy  dew,  divine. 


POEMS. 


203 


And  thus  through  sickness  make  me  strong 

In  body,  soul,  and  mind; 
For  unto  thee  does  grace  belong, 

And  thou  art  always  kind. 


THE    WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 

The  lofty  mountains  lift  their  heads  sublime, 

And  send  their  music  with  a  holy  chime 

Unto  the  heavens  that  arch  them  from  above, 

And  bless  them  ever  with  a  gracious  love. 

The  valleys,  too,  reclining  at  their  base, 

And  gazing  at  them  with  a  touching  grace, 

With  beauty  smile,  as  if  in  keen  delight 

They  felt  the  glory  of  the  lovely  sight. 

The  rocks,  stern,  grave,  and  rugged  in  their  power, 

Seem  willing,  too,  to  bring  their  sacred  dower 

Of  peace  and  strength,  of  splendid  might  and  truth, 

Of  old  age  crowned  with  everlasting  youth. 

The  waters,  too,  cascades  and  ponds  and  brooks, 

Preach  startling  sermons  by  their  pleasant  looks. 

And  strangers  gathered  from  many  a  home, 

Who've  felt  the  mystic  spell  that  bade  them  come, 

Bow  gravely  low  at  sights  so  grand  to  see, 

And  lift  their  humble  thanks,  O  God,  to  thee. 


NIGHT. 

The  night  has  come,  the  light  has  fled, 

The  stars  above  us  shine ; 
And  while  we  sleep,  and  sense  is  dead, 

Save  us,  O  God  divine. 

Why  need  we  fear,  sustained  by  thee 

Who  art  forever  true  ? 
And  wilt  thou,  as  we  bend  the  knee, 

Thy  love  and  grace  renew  ? 


204  in  memoriam:   c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

Forgive  the  sins  this  day  we've  done, 
Thy  sacred  help  concede ; 

And  wilt  thou,  O  most  holy  One, 
Be  with  us  in  our  need  ? 

And  when  the  night  of  death  is  sent, 
And  work  is  done  below, 

And  all  our  earthly  power  is  spent, 
Eternal  blessings  show. 


THE  OCEAN. 

I  looked  upon  the  ocean,  and  calm  it  seemed,  and  fair : 
The  peace  of  the  Almighty  was  surely  resting  there. 

I  listened  to  the  ocean,  its  ripples  and  its  swell : 
The  voice  of  the  Eternal  a  message  seemed  to  tell. 

I  bowed  before  the  ocean,  and  all  its  fearful  rage, 

Restrained  by  the  good  Father,  who  made  the  shores,  its  cage. 

I  stood  by  the  old  ocean,  and  thought  about  our  life, — 
Its  days  so  full  of  changes,  that  pass  from  calm  to  strife. 

And  the  ocean  seemed  to  speak  of  a  more  gracious  shore, 
Where  God  would  stay  our  billows,  and  bless  us  evermore. 


PRESIDENT  GARFIELD. 
(July  io,  1881.) 

Garfield,  the  nation's  pride  and  head, 

Lies  low,  by  wicked  hands  brought  down  ; 

And  all  the  people,  on  his  bed, 

His  heart  with  holy  love  would  crown. 

What  did  he  do  to  call  out  rage  ? 

And  who  with  him  a  fault  could  find  ? 
A  man  so  gentle,  true,  and  sage, 

So  thoughtful,  pure,  and  good,  and  kind. 


POEMS.  205 

Has  not  his  life  a  pattern  been 

Of  truth  and  peace  and  grace  and  power, 

And  have  we  not  forever  seen 

His  spirit  grand  in  danger's  hour  ? 

A  youth  so  faithful,  loving,  pure, 

Ready  each  day  his  work  to  do, 
His  task  to  meet,  his  lot  endure, 

And  bless  his  deeds  with  goodness,  too. 

In  college,  faithful,  strong,  and  brave, 

Careful  in  all  things  square  to  be ; 
Never  to  wicked  ways  a  slave, — 

A  child  of  God  by  grand  decree. 

In  all  places  of  trust  and  care, 

When  college-head,  or  on  the  field, 
Or  in  debate  he  had  a  share, 

Oh,  never  to  the  wrong  he'd  yield  ! 

And  so,  when  raised  to  greater  power, 

A  man  amongst  all  men  the  pride, 
A  gift  of  God,  the  nation's  dower, 

He  did  with  gentleness  decide. 

Why,  then,  did  wicked  hands  bring  low 
Our  country's  hope,  the  world's  delight? 

Spare  him,  O  God,  thy  grace  bestow, 
And  from  this  darkness  bring  a  light. 


OH    THAT   WE    KNEW! 

Oh  that  we  knew  why  life  was  given, 
Why  toil  and  pain  and  sin  are  near, 

Why  tears  do  fall,  and  hearts  are  riven, 
And  all  the  days  are  filled  with  fear. 


206  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Oh  that  we  knew  why  doubt  will  come, 
And  sickness,  too,  and  dire  despair, 

And  clouds  so  gather  in  the  home, 
And  darkness  settle  in  the  air. 

Oh  that  we  knew  why  death  is  sent, 
And  dear  ones  vanish  from  our  sight, 

When  we  can  hardly  give  consent, 
And  cannot  call  the  message  right. 

Oh  that  we  knew  about  the  life 
Reserved  for  those  who  love  the  Lord ; 

A  life  all  freed  from  care  and  strife, 
Where  angels  live  in  sweet  accord. 

Oh  that  we  knew !  well,  faith  shall  tell, 
And  make  all  human  puzzles  plain, 

And  show  that  God  does  all  things  well, 
That  none  need  murmur  nor  complain. 

O  God,  that  faith  we  pray  thee  send 
To  all  who  on  the  earth  remain ; 

And  then  the  clouds  at  once  will  end, 
And  loss  will  prove  eternal  gain. 


WE   DO   NOT   KNOW. 

We  do  not  know,  we  cannot  say, 
That  we  shall  see  another  day ; 
But  this  we  know,  and  gladly  tell, 
Whate'er  may  come,  that  all  is  well. 

We  do  not  know,  we  cannot  say, 
What  clouds  and  darkness  hedge  our  way 
But  this  we  know,  that  God,  our  Lord, 
Will  holy  help  and  grace  afford. 


POEMS.  207 

Why  should  we  know,  or  care  to  know, 
If  time  shall  bring  a  gift  or  blow  ? 
Since  anchored  on  the  Rock  we  stand, 
Holding  the  Father's  outstretched  hand. 

That  hand  will  keep  us  all  indeed, 
And  make  us  safe  in  pressing  need. 
No  fear  will  come,  all  will  be  bright, 
If  we  but  keep  the  Lord  in  sight. 


A   DAY   LOST. 

[A  writer  says,  "  That  day  is  lost  on  which  some  good  deed  is  not 
performed."] 

Oh  count  that  day  lost  that  sees  no  duty  done, 
No  brave  battles  fought  and  no  victories  won, 
No  great  sins  put  down,  no  mighty  truths  attained, 
No  base  passions  lost,  no  solid  virtues  gained. 

Oh  count  that  day  lost  that  finds  thee  not  awake, 
And  ready  for  all  things  good  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Day  lost,  indeed,  unless  thou'rt  ashamed  to  stay 
Where  thorns  and  thistles  disfigure  all  the  way. 

Oh  count  that  day  lost  that  leads  thee  not  to  God, 
Hard  though  be  the  pains,  and  sharp  though  be  the  rod; 
That  finds  thee  not  the  more  holy  and  more  strong, 
And  afraid  of  nothing  but  the  path  of  wrong. 


SPRING. 

The  spring  has  come,  the  blessed  sprin< 
With  secrets  rich  and  deep  ; 

Glad  tidings  does  it  ever  bring, 
Grand  truths  for  all  to  keep. 


2o8  IN    MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  spring  has  come,  the  blessed  spring, 

And  all  around  is  birth ; 
Whilst  nature  seems  with  joy  to  ring 

About  the  fruitful  earth. 

The  spring  has  come,  the  blessed  spring : 
Our  hearts  with  praise  are  glad ; 

We'll  fly,  like  birds,  with  speedy  wing, 
From  all  things  sharp  and  sad. 


WRITTEN    FOR   THE    ORDINATION    OF 
THE   REV.  ALFRED  MANCHESTER. 

Thy  servant,  at  the  temple  gate, 

O  God,  with  fear  and  love 
And  anxious  thoughts  will  ever  wait 

Thy  blessing  from  above. 

Oh,  let  him  always  speak  the  truth 

With  gentleness  and  grace ; 
And  teach  him  how.  in  manhood's  youth, 

To  run  the  Christian's  race. 

May  many  souls  by  him  find  life 
And  grace  and  truth  and  rest ! 

And  thus  in  each  and  every  strife 
May  all  by  thee  be  blest ! 

Let  Jesus  reign  triumphant  here, 

And  teacher  and  the  flock 
In  a  communion  sweet  and  dear 

Cling  to  that  mighty  "  Rock" ! 

For,  then,  the  day  of  growth  will  come, 
And  souls  will  wake  to  peace  ; 

And  in  the  ever-blessed  home 
God's  love  will  never  cease. 


POEMS.  209 


GOD'S    CHRISTMAS   GIFT. 

God  saw  the  nations  sweeping  by, 
And  heard  the  people's  anguished  cry, 

"  Oh,  give  us  light !  " 
Out  of  the  skies  he  sent  a  babe, 
The  humble  child  in  manger  laid, 

A  striking  sight ! 

Wise  men  and  shepherds  marched  to  see, 
And  to  the  babe  they  bent  the  knee, 

And  presents  gave. 
A  "  star  "  stood  where  the  child  was  found, 
And  all  the  place  seemed  holy  ground 

To  men  so  grave. 

But  now  that  child  is  Lord  and  King, 
And  unto  all  will  blessings  bring 

Who  hear  his  voice  ! 
He  asks  of  each  and  all  the  heart, 
And  never  will  his  grace  impart. 

O  world,  rejoice ! 


IN   THE   STILLNESS    OF   THE   NIGHT. 

In  the  stillness  of  the  night, 

In  the  solemn  stillness,  too, 
When  the  moon  is  shining  bright, 

And  we  all  must  sleep,  not  do, 

Then  a  careful  love  looks  down, 
Blessing  all  that  take  their  rest, 

O'er  the  city  and  o'er  town ; 
Orders  each  one's  lot  the  best. 

Some  receive  an  earnest  call ; 

To  their  souls  a  voice  says,  "  Come  !  " 


2IO  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

Seeming  death  on  flesh  will  fall, 
But  the  soul  is  carried  home. 

Others  are  kept  calm  and  still, 

And  await  the  sunlight  clear, 
Then,  refreshed  in  soul  and  will, 

Rise  and  greet  the  duties  near. 

BAPTISMAL   HYMN. 

Almighty  God,  our  child  this  day 

Into  thy  hands  we  place ; 
And  ever  would  we  humbly  pray 

For  rich  supplies  of  grace. 

The  thoughts  make  pure,  the  words  make  true, 

And  all  the  deeds  inspire, 
And  send  each  hour  thy  holy  dew 

And  thy  celestial  fire  ! 

Send  Jesus,  too,  for  daily  light, 
His  trust  and  love  and  peace ; 

And,  oh,  may  all  that's  just  and  right 
With  this  child's  growth  increase  ! 

And  when  the  day  of  change  must  come, 

And  mortal  strength  depart, 
When  all  the  work  of  earth  is  done, 

Send  sunshine  on  the  heart ! 


PALM   SUNDAY. 

Oh,  see  the  royal  Leader  come ; 
And,  look  !  the  people  shout  and  run ; 

A  king  is  here  ! 
He  rides  in  lowly  guise,  indeed : 
It  was  in  ancient  writ  decreed; 

Why  need  we  fear  ? 


POEMS.  211 

Hosannas  loud  anoint  the  air, 

Palms  are  waved,  and  the  people  dare 

To  praise  the  Lord ! 
Garments  are  thrown  upon  the  way, 
And  Christ  asserts  his  rights  this  day, 

And  is  adored ! 

Oh,  let  us  in  our  hearts  upraise 

The  strongest  faith,  the  warmest  praise ; 

And  palms  we'll  wave  ! 
With  us,  O  Lord,  in  love  abide, 
And  every  thought  and  deed  decide ; 

Our  souls,  oh,  save  ! 


EASTER   POEM. 

All  hail  to  Easter  Day  now  here ; 
Away  at  once  our  doubt  and  fear, 

For  Christ  has  risen  ! 
Our  hearts  shall  rise  in  sacred  love, 
Our  eyes  shall  turn  to  thee  above, 

O  God  of  heaven ! 

We  feel  the  reign  of  time  has  fled, 
No  longer  can  the  seeming  dead 

In  sleep  repose  ! 
The  soul  will  find  another  home, 
And  hear  the  Saviour's  solemn  "  Come, 

When  breath  shall  close  ! 

We  know  this  life  will  speed  away, 
And  short  will  be  our  mortal  day, 

And  flesh  must  fade  ! 
But  still  beyond  there  is  a  rest 
For  all  the  holy  and  the  blest 

Who've  Christ  obeyed. 


2  12  IN  memoriam:  c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

Thanks  be  to  God  for  Easter  Day ! 
To  Jesus,  too,  who  led  the  way 

To  grace  and  peace  ! 
And  may  we  all  receive  a  crown, 
When  we  our  earthly  work  lay  down, 

And  faith  ne'er  cease  ! 


THOUGHTS   FOR   CHRISTMAS. 

Hark !  the  voice  of  God  is  speaking, 
And  angel  hosts  are  hovering  round ; 

Love  upon  the  earth  is  breaking ; 
The  chosen  Son  of  God  is  found ! 

Wise  men  from  the  East  are  coming, 
That  they  may  see  the  Holy  One ; 

Shepherds  from  the  field  are  hastening 
To  find  what  glories  have  been  won. 

A  star  now  shines  with  sacred  light, 
And  onward  moves  with  mighty  grace, 

That  it  may  guide  these  seekers  right 
Unto  the  consecrated  place. 

In  lowly  spot  there  lies  concealed 
The  gracious  wonder  of  the  earth ; 

And  to  their  trembling  hearts  revealed 
Messiah's  long-expected  birth. 

Glory  to  God,  and  peace  to  all ! 

The  mighty  King  of  souls  is  here  ! 
Oh,  with  the  Magi  let  us  fall, 

And  bow  our  heads,  adore,  revere. 

Glory  to  God,  that  star  of  light 
For  ages  has  its  beauty  spread, 

And  many  hearts  unto  the  right 
Has  by  its  holy  splendor  led. 


POEMS. 


Glory  to  God,  the  world  is  blessed, 
And  all  our  night  is  turned  to  day, 

If  Jesus  be  by  all  confessed 
As  Rod  and  Staff,  as  Hope  and  Stay! 


ONLY  A  LITTLE  WHILE,  AND  WE  SHALL 
BE  WITH  GOD. 

A  little  while  :  then  we  shall  rest 
From  pain  and  care  and  sin ; 

And  we  shall  find  that  God  knew  best 
The  hour  that  death  should  win. 

A  little  while :  the  trump  shall  sound  ; 

And  what  a  change  will  come, 
And  what  a  light  will  fall  around, 

When  mortal  life  is  done ! 

A  little  while :  then  heaven  we'll  see, 

And  angels  gladly  meet. 
And  find,  by  God's  all-wise  decree, 

Our  blessedness  complete. 

A  little  while  ;  but  faith  must  first 

Transfigure  all  our  days. 
O'er  all  our  lives  must  glory  burst, 

On  all  our  lips  be  praise. 

A  little  while  :  O  God,  how  long 

Before  the  time  shall  come  ? 
In  that  great  hour  may  we  be  strong ; 

And  save  us,  through  thy  Son ! 


2  14  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 


OUR   DEAR   ONE   GONE. 


I  hear  a  step  upon  the  stair, 
I  feel  a  trembling  in  the  air, 
And  near  me  is  a  vacant  chair, 
And  broken  is  my  heart. 

A  voice  is  gone  forevermore, 
A  voice  I  loved  I  hear  no  more  ; 
It's  heard  alone  on  God's  own  shore. 
O  God,  thy  grace  impart. 

A  face  so  dear  no  more  I'll  see, 
No  more  will  smile  on  earth  for  me  : 
O  Father,  now  it  looks  at  thee, 
And  I  am  all  alone. 

A  hand  I  took,  and  loved  to  take, 
No  more  with  joy  my  heart  will  wake, 
For  now,  withdrawn,  a  chill  will  make ; 
And  all  my  peace  is  gone. 

But,  thanks  to  God,  the  soul  will  live, 
And  unto  all  a  rest  will  give  ; 
And  whilst  we  weep,  O  God,  forgive, 
And  send  a  holy  light. 

Farewell,  our  dear  one  gone  above, 
All  filled  with  grace  and  crowned  with  love, 
Who  through  celestial  fields  will  rove. 
Our  God  has  ordered  right. 


XIV. 
SERMONS. 

THESE  sermons  are  selected  from  those  which  Dr. 
Bradlee  had  prepared  for  the  third  volume  of 
sermons,  which  he  proposed  to  call  "  A  Voice  from  the 
Pulpit."  They  are  sermons  of  the  Longwood  pastorate, 
and  were  to  have  been  published  in  1898. 


*t?*$?%S*? 


THE   ECHOES    OF   GOODNESS. 


"  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament, 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  forever  and 
ever." — Dan.  xii.  3. 


THE   ECHOES    OF   GOODNESS. 

"  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament, 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars  forever  and 
ever."  —  Dan.  xii.  3. 

ASSUMING  that  every  person  in  the  world  wants 
to  be  wise,  and  wants  to  turn  other  people  to 
wisdom  and  to  righteousness,  I  have  chosen  the  words 
of  Daniel  for  my  text  this  morning.  There  is  a  splen- 
did reward  that  all  through  the  Bible  is  promised,  not 
only  to  those  who  are  doing  good  all  the  time,  but  also 
to  those  who  lead  others  to  do  well ;  and  the  threaten- 
ings  for  those  who  lead  others  to  go  astray  are  very 
great,  terrible,  and  worthy  of  serious  notice. 

"  It  were  better  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  around 
their  neck,  and  that  they  were  drowned  in  the  depths  of 
the  sea."  These  are  the  words  of  Jesus  ;  and  he  had 
no  excuse  for  those  who  dragged  others  down  to  sin, 
suffering,  and  despair. 

But  to-day  we  would  gaze  at  the  more  bright,  beauti- 
ful, strengthening,  and  comforting  side ;  and  let  us  see 
how  we  each  one  of  us  can  win  others  to  righteousness. 
I  suppose  that  we  can  bring  about  the  regeneration  of 
others  in  three  ways,  — by  our  manner,  our  speech,  and 
our  deeds. 

By  our  manner.  We  hardly  consider  how  much  is 
involved  in  the  way  in  which  we  do  things  or  in  the 
attitude  that  we  take  at  varied  times,  in  our  cordial 


220  IN    MEMORIAM  '.    C  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

greeting  or  our  cold  reserve,  in  our  smile  or  our 
frown,  and  in  any  way  by  which  we  convey  intelligence 
without  actually  speaking  out  all  that  we  think. 

Sometimes  a  devout  posture  at  church  has  stirred  up 
a  large  number  to  a  deeper  thinking,  or  a  cordial  shake 
of  the  hand  in  the  street  has  given  courage  to  a  broken 
heart,  or  a  glistening  of  the  eye,  or  the  unforced  tear, 
that  leaps  spontaneously  forth  at  the  command  of  an 
earnest  sympathy,  or  the  turning  of  the  eyes  and  the 
pointing  of  the  finger  to  heaven,  will  thrill  many  souls 
to  the  deepest  centre,  arousing  the  better  feelings,  and 
deluging  the  heart  with  a  sacred  quickening  and  glori- 
ous peace. 

Those  who  have  seen  Murillo's  Madonna,  where  the 
Virgin,  with  a  face  filled  with  glory,  points  her  hand 
upward  toward  heaven,  will  readily  perceive  how  even 
a  silent  but  an  eloquent  posture  may  stir  the  soul,  con- 
secrate the  heart,  and  rouse  up  the  deepest  reverence 
of  the  mind. 

Our  brother  Bowen,  pastor  of  a  church  in  that  part 
of  Boston  called  Roxbury,  who  a  few  years  ago  passed 
to  God,  bewailed  by  so  many  hundreds  of  sorrowing 
ones,  had  a  very  happy,  genial,  tender,  and  holy  man- 
ner, in  look,  grasp,  and  in  everything  appertaining  to 
appearance  and  action,  overpowering  the  recipient  with 
a  sense  of  good  will.  And  so  is  it  with  all  people  who 
would  nobly  influence  the  world.  Their  manners  are 
bathed  in  a  Christian  courtesy,  girdled  by  a  religious 
gentleness,  and  inspired,  sweetened,  and  consecrated 
by  a  Christ-like  simplicity. 

There  may  be  a  great  many  good  people  who  are 


THE  ECHOES  OF  GOODNESS.  221 

very  rough,  repelling,  and  sharp,  but  their  roughness 
puts  a  tarnish  upon  their  power,  sullies  the  effect  of 
their  lives,  abridges  the  glorious  beauty  of  their  souls, 
and  cuts  off  and  cuts  down  a  great  many  grand  oppor- 
tunities ;  for  faith,  peace,  devotion,  humility,  and 
thorough  consecration  must  all  be  written  out  in  the 
face,  sparkling  in  the  eye,  hovering  upon  the  lips,  and 
beaming  in  every  varied  expression,  or  else  our  exist- 
ence will  prove  a  partial  failure,  whilst  in  the  other 
world  we  shall  bemoan  many  neglected  benedictions. 

Have  we  not  often  said,  That  man  is  a  real  Christian, 
or  That  woman  is  solidly  good,  for  we  can  see  it  in  the 
face?  Well,  this  is  just  what  we  mean  when  we  say 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  each  one  of  us  to  carry  on  the 
outside  as  well  as  on  the  inside  a  true  advertisement 
of  the  character. 

If  we  have  ever  entered  the  studio  of  a  sculptor, 
making  frequent  visits,  day  by  day,  for  weeks,  we  have 
probably  seen  some  statue  in  the  stages  of  its  formation. 

At  first  a  rough  block,  looking  like  nothing  pleasant, 
and  rather  hideous  than  otherwise,  and  certainly  nothing 
like  what  it  will  be  in  its  possible  future;  but  week  by 
week  the  block  of  marble  grows  more  shapely,  more 
attractive,  and  every  way  more  beautiful,  till  at  last  an 
almost'  human  face  appears,  But  even  then,  perhaps, 
something  seems  to  be  lacking.  The  eyes  are  not 
quite  right,  the  profile  is  a  little  too  sharp,  the  lips  are 
not  sufficiently  clear,  the  expression  repels  somewhat ; 
and  so  the  cutting,  the  trimming,  and  the  polishing  go 
on  till  all  is  right,  for  every  new  thought  of  the  artist 
makes  his  work  more  complete,  and  writes  itself  out 
with  a  beautiful  clearness  upon  the  speaking  marble. 


222  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

So,  it  seems  to  me,  the  ever-improving  character 
chisels  the  face,  if  we  belong  to  those  who  grow  in 
grace,  for  our  good  angel,  the  Celestial  Artist,  keeps 
making  us  more  spiritually  attractive,  and,  uncon- 
sciously to  us,  paints  our  eyes,  forms  the  countenance, 
and  polishes  the  lips,  till  we  are  living  epistles  read  by 
all  the  children  of  God.  And  thus  do  we  powerfully 
influence  a  community  on  the  road  to  righteousness, 
always  unconsciously,  but  none  the  less  gloriously, 
carrying  with  us  the  banner  of  the  Lord.  Again,  by 
speech,  we  effect  good ;  and  this  is  brought  about 
through  prayer,  teaching,  and  advice,  having  laws,  of 
course,  for  its  regulation,  which,  if  faithfully,  conscien- 
tiously, and  earnestly  obeyed,  cannot  fail  to  secure  the 
end  that  is  desired. 

I  suppose  that  there  is  no  power  wielded  like  that  of 
a  judicious,  humble,  tender,  heartfelt,  and  believing 
prayer,  especially  in  times  of  great  tribulation. 

I  do  not  now  speak  of  eloquent  harangues  to  God, 
nor  of  the  information  that  so  many  give  to  the 
Almighty  of  how  he  ought  to  treat  the  children  of 
men,  nor  of  anything  in  invocation  by  which  man  is 
made  prominent  and  God  really  set  aside ;  but  I  refer 
to  that  opening  of  the  heart  to  God, —  that  is,  without 
any  questioning,  the  true  wrestling  of  need  for  a  grand 
supply,  where  the  human  pleads  with  a  trembling  en- 
treaty for  the  blessed  aid  of  the  Divine,  and  where  the 
grateful  heart,  weighed  down  by  a  sense  of  undeserved 
favors,  pours  forth  its  jubilant  thanksgivings  before 
the  altar  of  the  Almighty.  Such  prayer,  in  church  or 
in  conference  meeting  or  in  a  private  chamber,  always 


THE    ECHOES    OF    GOODNESS.  223 

helps  those  who  hear  it,  and  leads  the  wearied  mortal 
very  near  to  the  celestial  city.  Yet  this  duty  of 
prayer  is  most  delicate,  since  intercourse  with  God, 
from  its  very  nature,  seems  to  be  something  sacred, 
solitary,  and  hardly  a  matter  for  any  witnesses  save  for 
angels,  unless  the  occasion  be  one  of  public  necessity, 
where  the  call  is  immediate  and  peremptory.  I  hum- 
bly confess  that  there  is  no  part  of  my  special  work  as 
a  minister  that  seems  to  me  more  sacred  than  this,  so 
gently  must  it  be  handled,  so  unostentatiously  must  it 
be  managed,  and  so  trustingly  must  it  be  met. 

I  know  that  there  are  some  clergymen,  who  say  or 
who  want  to  say,  when  they  enter  our  homes,  almost 
the  first  thing,  "  Let  us  pray  "  ;  but  I  confess  that  it  is 
a  very  hard  thing  for  me  to  say  that,  unless  I  feel  that 
those  I  visit  are  in  the  mood  for  such  a  service,  and 
really  crave  the  presence  of  God,  haply  feeling  after 
him  that  they  may  find  him.  And  then,  too,  I  feel  that 
such  should  ask  me  rather  than  I  ask  them ;  for  the 
matter  is  between  them  and  God. 

How  often  a  sick  one  will  exclaim,  or  a  troubled  one, 
Oh,  I  wish  that  my  minister  would  only  pray  with  me ! 
Why,  then,  my  friend,  do  you  not  ask  him  ?  and  how 
does  he  know  but  that  he  intrudes  upon  your  own 
sacred  intercourse  with  God,  unless  you  signify  to  him 
that  you  desire  his  pleadings  also.  I  am  truly  sorry 
that  in  many  churches  the  praying  is  so  often  left  to 
the  minister,  to  be  offered  in  the  pulpit  or  in  the 
study,  as  if  he  were  the  vicarious  atonement  for  the 
whole  parish,  being  expected  to  do  all  the  religious 
work  of  all  the  souls  under  his  charge. 


224  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

If  we  will  only  be  sincere,  it  is  no  disgrace  to  us  that 
we  are  called  praying  men  and  praying  women ;  and 
nobody  will  really  like  us  and  esteem  us  any  the  less 
because  we  have  an  altar  in  the  household,  and  because 
each  week  we  are  always  seen  with  the  little  band  of 
worshippers  who  meet  together  that  they  may  talk  with 
God. 

The  example,  too,  upon  the  young,  of  devout  prayer 
is  very  great.  None  of  us  forget  our  praying  mothers, 
and  many  of  us  carry  around  with  us  all  the  time  the 
perpetual  fragrance  of  invocations  that  we  heard  in  the 
days  of  our  youth ;  and  those  prayers  were  a  certain 
kind  of  celestial  roses  dropped  in  profusion  upon  the 
soul,  the  perfume  of  which  can  never  cease,  but  will  be 
distilled  in  all  its  sweetness  throughout  eternal  ages. 
Let  us  pray,  then,  that  we  may  help  others,  which  we 
certainly  cannot  fail  to  do  if  we  pray  from  the  sacred 
depths  of  the  heart.  By  teaching  and  by  preaching 
the  world  is  helped.  I  do  not  mean  by  any  one  ser- 
mon that  is  uttered  by  any  one  man,  but  by  all  the  dis- 
courses that  have  been  preached  by  the  millions  of  men 
since  the  first  Christian  year;  nor  do  I  mean  so  much 
what  is  said  as  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  spoken.  Of 
course  there  are  tons  of  poor  sermons  that  are  poured 
out  from  the  pulpits  of  the  land  every  Sunday  in  the 
year ;  and  in  Saint  Paul's  day  there  was  probably  the 
same  difficulty,  since  he  speaks,  perhaps  with  a  little 
sarcasm,  of  the  "foolishness  of  preaching."  But  every 
word  that  is  spoken  from  the  sacred  desk,  out  of  a 
believing  heart,  has  wings,  and  will  find  a  cordial  wel- 
come somewhere ;  and  one  cannot  utter  the  words 
"God,"  "Jesus,"  "the  Holy  Spirit,"  "eternity,"  "duty," 


THE    ECHOES    OF    GOODNESS.  225 

and  "retribution,"  without,  if  the  speaker  be  sincere, 
doing  vast  and  everlasting  good. 

We  make  altogether  too  much  of  the  human  in  our 
discourses  ;  for  we  say  sometimes,  What  a  great  sermon  ! 
What  an  interesting  preacher !  and  such  words  as  those. 
But  this  is  all  wrong ;  for  the  service  is  between  us  and 
God,  and  not  between  us  and  man,  whilst  the  speaker 
is  but  the  humble  instrument  of  the  Almighty.  And,  if 
he  would  do  well,  all  glory  be  to  the  Father ;  but,  if  he 
would  fail  to  do  well,  ask  the  Father  to  give  him  more 
power  and  to  shed  upon  him  a  more  transfiguring, 
uplifting,  and  comforting  grace. 

The  very  fact  that  so  little  is  remembered  of  a  ser- 
mon is  a  proof  of  how  little  consequence  human  rhet- 
oric becomes,  only  as  God's  spirit  tingles  through  it, 
uplifts  it,  and  glorifies  it. 

"  You  gave  us  a  splendid  discourse  yesterday,"  said, 
one  Monday  morning,  a  parishioner  to  his  pastor. 

"  Did  I  ?  "  was  the  reply.  "  Tell  me  the  text,  if  you 
can." 

"  Text !  text !  Well,  I  declare,  I  have  forgotten  all 
about  that ! " 

"Why,  then,  tell,  if  you  please,  the  subject." 

"Subject!  subject !  did  you  say?  Well,  I  must  con- 
fess Tdo  not  remember  exactly  what  it  was.  I  only 
know  I  enjoyed  the  sermon  at  the  time,  and  it  has 
helped  me  very  much." 

Here,  friends,  is  just  my  point.  The  power  is  with 
God ;  and  the  effect  is  nothing  that  can  be  definitely 
stated,  but  something  that  is  forming  a  splendid  founda- 
tion in  the  human  soul. 

Once  more  we  help  each  other  through  speech  and 


226  IN  memoriam:  c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

by  advice.  Now  it  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  duties 
in  the  world  to  give  advice  so  that  it  will  be  well 
taken  ;  for  the  one  to  whom  we  speak  may  honestly 
think  that  we  claim  superiority  or  are  playing  the 
Pharisee  or  are  fond  of  dictation.  In  fact,  the  one 
addressed  may  say,  does  often  say :  You  tell  me  what 
to  do  ?  Well,  who  are  you  that  tell  me  ?  Who  gave 
you  this  authority;  and  are  you  a  saint,  whilst  I  am  a 
sinner  ?  Perhaps  you  had  better  attend  to  your  own 
affairs,  and  let  me  alone  to  take  care  of  myself,  for 
which  I  am  abundantly  able  without  your  aid.  Here 
is  the  spirit  that  the  one  advised  may  naturally  pos- 
sess, while  oftentimes  such  a  person  is  excited  enough 
to  speak  out  just  what  is  thought  with  something  em- 
phatic added  between  each  word  that  shows  how  very 
disturbed  are  the  channels  of  the  heart.  And  yet  we 
must  give  advice ;  for,  if  rightly  given,  it  will  in  time 
win  many  souls  to  God.  I  suppose  that  the  only  way 
to  proceed  in  this  direction  is  to  be  gentle,  modest, 
conscientious,  acknowledging  no  personal  deserts ;  and 
then,  too,  we  should  be  very  careful  to  choose  the 
right  time  for  our  words,  for  we  had  better  never  speak 
than  to  speak  at  an  inauspicious  moment.  Sometimes  I 
think  that  a  rebuke  that  is  given  indirectly  is  much  bet- 
ter than  a  direct  attack, —  a  treatment  something  like 
that  which  the  prophet  gave  to  David,  so  that  the  ac- 
cused party,  without  knowing  that  he  was  the  guilty 
one,  passed  judgment  upon  himself,  bringing  out  those 
forcible  words  that  have  echoed  through  all  the  centu- 
ries, "  Thou  art  the  man." 

Then,  too,  oftentimes,  if  we  will  only  speak  in  sea- 
son, we  may  prevent  a  wrong,  since  some  may  only 


THE    ECHOES    OF   GOODNESS.  227 

wait  for  our  stern  disapprobation  in  order  to  make  up 
their  decision  about  some  weak  or  wicked  act.  How 
often  one  says,  Well,  if  he  or  she  chooses  to  go  to  de- 
struction, I  am  not  inclined  to  interfere ;  for  it  is  none 
of  my  concern  !  Now  this  is  utterly  wrong ;  for,  if  we 
can  lead  any  one  into  the  light,  it  is  our  bounden  duty 
so  to  do,  for  thus  we  shall  turn  many  to  righteousness, 
and  a  great  number  of  our  own  sins  will  thus,  by  the 
grace  of  Almighty  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
be  thoroughly  blotted  out. 

Run  and  stop  that  young  man  or  that  young  woman 
while  there  may  be  time,  before  he  or  she  or  both  fall 
into  the  precipice  toward  which  they  are  daily  hasten- 
ing ;  and  then  your  life  will  be  beautiful,  while  in  God's 
city  you  will  find   fresh   stars   added  to  your  crown. 

Finally,  by  deeds  we  turn  many  to  righteousness ;  and 
they  will  shine  as  the  stars.  Good  deeds  are  always 
repeating  themselves  through  their  fruitful  echoes  in 
the  admiring  heart ;  for  we  applaud,  and  in  time  we 
copy  that  which  we  like,  and  this  is  the  law  of  human 
nature. 

One  Peabody  will,  in  due  season,  have  a  hundred 
successors,  who  each  will  try  to  overdo  the  other  in 
some  grand  benefit  to  the  race,  so  that  the  millions 
that  are  given  will,  by  a  due  spiritual  growth,  bring 
their  splendid  interest,  simple  and  compound.  Pea- 
body,  then  a  Stewart,  then  a  Lenox,  then  a  Kidder, 
then  a  Hemenway,  and  so  on  the  givers  rise  up  in  a 
glorious  succession ;  and  thus  the  hard  human  heart 
gets  thoroughly  melted.  I  was  profoundly  struck  with 
an  anecdote  which  I  read,  that  probably  is  familiar  to 
you  all, —  how,  after  a  very  powerful  sermon  upon  giv- 


2  28  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

ing,  a  man,  whose  liberal  feelings  had  not  received  a 
very  generous  culture,  first  resolved  to  give  a  very- 
little,  and  then  a  little  more,  and  then  a  great  deal 
more,  till  at  last,  the  box  reaching  him,  he  thought  a 
little  less  would  do,  and  then  a  little  less,  till,  his  bet- 
ter feelings  coming  up  once  more,  he  threw  into  the 
box  his  whole  purse,  saying  aloud,  "There,  writhe,  old 
nature" 

Now  all  the  good  deeds  that  we  witness  make  the 
old  nature  in  us  writhe  till  we  get  on  better  ground, 
and  so  all  our  good  deeds  help  others  in  the  same 
glorious  way.  But,  after  all,  there  is  no  solid  help 
outside  of  Christ,  and  only  as  we  get  near  to  him 
shall  we  find  peace  and  spread  abroad  righteousness ; 
and,  oh,  let  us  "  seek  him  then,  while  he  may  be  found, 
and  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near,"  and  let  us  never 
forget  that  he  says,  "  Lo !  I  am  with  you  always,  even 
unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  and,  in  the  words  of  the 
unknown  poet,  let  us  cry  out, — 

"  Helped  by  thy  grace,  no  more  we'll  stray, 
No  more  resist  thy  voice  : 
Where  thou,  Good  Shepherd,  lead'st  the  way, 
That  way  shall  be  our  choice. 

"  Too  long,  alas  !  our  wandering  feet 
The  crooked  paths  have  trod  : 
Henceforth  we'll  follow,  as  is  meet, 
The  sure,  unerring  road. 

"  All  praise,  O  Lord,  to  thee  alone 
Below,  as  'tis  above ; 
And  may  thy  joys,  Eternal  One, 
Both  draw  and  crown  our  love." 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM. 


Renew  a  right  spirit  within  me." 

Ps.  li.  10. 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM. 

"  Renew  a  right  spirit  within  me." —  Ps.  li.  10. 

I  PROPOSE  to  speak  to-day  of  the  right  spirit,  what 
it  is  and  what  it  is  not,  what  is  mistaken  for  it, 
and  its  real  power,  grace,  and  benediction. 

We  may  mean  a  great  many  things  when  we  say  of 
a  man  or  of  a  woman  that  he  or  she  has  a  right  spirit ; 
and  yet,  according  to  the  New  Testament,  such  a  spirit 
can  only  have  one  decided  interpretation.  Let  us  look 
at  the  matter  in  the  assertion  of  right,  in  the  progress 
of  labor,  in  the  study  of  Christianity,  in  the  endurance 
of  suffering,  and  in  the  hour  of  death. 

That  is,  let  us  examine  the  proper  and  the  improper 
spirit,  as  we  claim  what  is  our  own,  as  we  make  our 
living,  as  we  find  out  and  obey  our  religion,  as  we 
suffer  trial,  and  as  we  pass  to  God ;  for  these  points 
will  cover  the  salient  parts  of  each  one's  life.  Prob- 
ably in  no  one  thing  do  we  make  more  mistakes  than 
in  the  claiming  and  the  maintenance  of  our  own 
possessions. 

Forgetting  that,  under  the  right  gospel  interpreta- 
tion, nothing  is  our  own,  but  all  that  we  have  is  under 
trust,  a  loan  on  time,  we  hold,  guard,  and  increase  our 
wealth,  very  often  with  but  little  conscience,  and 
always  as  if  the  right  of  domain  in  the  whole  world 
rested  at  our  own  door.  What  would  Almighty  God 
probably  say  about  the  matter  ?  and  what  are  the  ques- 


232  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

tions  of  justice,  honor,  holiness,  mercy,  and  love,  that 
must  be  weighed  by  our  own  decision  ?  Certainly, 
everything  that  each  one  of  us  may  possess  is  on 
mortgage ;  and  God  holds  the  bond,  so  that  all  of  us 
are  simply  trustees,  having  nothing,  save  on  a  loan, 
and  on  a  loan  that  may  be  recalled  at  any  instant  with- 
out a  moment's  notice. 

Again,  everything  that  is  held  unjustly  is  not  our 
own,  and  must  be  given  up.  Of  course,  in  the  many 
complicated  relations  of  society  there  will  arise  ques- 
tions as  to  duties,  which  seem  almost  inexplicable, 
where  money  taken  or  given  seems  a  wrong  to  the 
stability  of  mercantile  laws  and  an  outrage  on  honor 
and  righteousness.  What,  then,  in  such  cases  shall  a 
man  do  ? 

Compromise  the  matter  fairly,  divide  the  loss,  and 
stand  square  before  God  and  man.  But  what  if  one 
party  should  demand  all  or  none,  and  will  listen  to 
no  fair  and  equitable  decision  ? 

Wait,  then,  till  that  other  party  gains  a  better  spirit ; 
and  if,  after  a  while,  the  better  spirit  should  not  come, 
give  what  you  are  advantaged  thereby  to  God's  poor, 
and  call  the  account  settled.  In  all  cases  we  had 
better  suffer  than  do  wrong  or  even  bear  a  loss,  rather 
than  any  one  should  have  just  grounds  for  supposing 
that  we  have  done  any  wrong.  But  these  are  side 
issues. 

Nothing  is  our  own ;  and  we  are  acting  all  of  us  for 
a  Master,  who  will  some  day  want  to  examine  our 
accounts.  And  to  him  shall  we  stand  or  fall,  according 
to  the  intents  of  our  souls. 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM.  233 

In  the  progress  of  labor  there  is  a  right  and  a  wrong 
side.  For  what  are  we  daily  working  ?  Is  it  merely 
for  personal  gain  ?  Is  it  only  that  we  and  ours  may 
stand  high  in  the  community,  and  wield  a  large  finan- 
cial power  ?  Have  we  no  thought  for  others  in  all  our 
plans  ?  And  have  we  forgotten  the  poor  that  are  to  be 
clothed  and  fed,  and  the  sick  that  are  to  be  tended, 
and  all  sufferers  that  are  to  be  helped  ?  and  is  the  eter- 
nal /,  our  only  creed,  and  are  we  bowing  down  at  our 
own  altar  continually  ? 

O  God,  can  it  be  that  thy  children  thus  pursue 
shadows,  and  build  their  hopes  on  mere  foam  ?  and  can 
it  be  that  we  are  all  of  us  so  blind,  deaf,  and  demented 
that  we  expect  to  rule  the  world  by  our  own  right  arm, 
and  gather  its  treasures  into  our  own  storehouses? 
And  are  we  so  far  away  from  humanity,  so  deluged 
with  selfishness,  and  so  overcome  by  success,  that  we 
must  steer  to  our  own  port,  and  pick  up  no  ship- 
wrecked passengers  on  the  way  ? 

Forbid  it  just  Heaven,  and  show  to  us  how  each  and 
all  are  interlocked  in  one  common  interest,  and  how 
the  heart-beats  of  one  should  echo  the  eternal  throbs 
of  all. 

My  friends,  we  have  forgotten  the  glory  of  labor 
until  we  understand  that  every  person  that  God  has 
made  is  our  brother  or  our  sister,  until  we  know  that 
the  rounding  of  a  head  of  a  pin  by  a  patient  worker  in 
a  factory  is  as  high,  as  just,  as  true  a  work  as  the  con- 
signing of  a  fleet  of  ships  to  sea,  whose  harvest  shall 
be  a  million. 

The  successful  merchant,  counting  his  tons  of  gold, 


234  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

and  the  honest  sweeper  of  our  streets,  are  both  children 
of  God.  I  honor  them  both ;  and  to  each  should  we 
bow  with  the  deepest  respect  and  confidence,  for  both 
are  doing  their  part,  and  as  such  are  worthy  of  a  high, 
an  earnest,  and  a  holy  regard. 

We  hear  to-day  of  the  working  of  the  people's  party, 
or  of  the  socialists,  or  of  those  human  pests,  the  anar- 
chists ;  and  all  these  people  are  to-day  claiming  a  large 
share  of  our  attention.  Such  ask  us  to  consider  and  to 
redress  the  great  injustice  which  society  now  inflicts 
upon  labor. 

I  am  willing  to  grant  that  sometimes  great  wrong  is 
done  to  those  who  bear  our  burdens  ;  but  the  cure,  my 
friends,  is  not  to  be  found,  as  we  are  told,  in  the  giving 
up  of  wages,  in  the  destruction  of  banks,  in  the  crush- 
ing of  railroads,  in  the  throwing  of  deadly  missiles,  or 
in  any  way  by  the  upsetting  of  the  great  financial  sys- 
tem of  the  world.  For  these  things,  instead  of  making 
the  poor  better  off,  would  add  to  their  burdens,  increase 
their  distress,  and  throw  the  whole  world  into  the  rank- 
est poverty  and  shame ;  for  thus  ambition  would  be 
clipped,  effort  paralyzed,  and  all  the  comforts  of  life 
rapidly  disappear,  and,  like  Arabs,  we  should  wander 
in  the  desert,  and  civilization  would  depart. 

Jesus  said,  you  remember,  that  the  laborer  was 
worthy  of  his  hire;  and  he  must  have  meant,  by  hire, 
wages.  And,  therefore,  instead  of  no  wages,  let  us  cry, 
More  wages  and  less  hours  of  work,  and  after  a  certain 
probation  the  right  of  every  honest  workman  to  a  pro- 
portionate share  of  the  profits,  and  then  neither  wealth 
nor  poverty  could  ever  attain  an  undue   excess,  and 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM.  235 

every  one  born  into  the  world  would  have  a  right  to 
reach  any  position  desired.  There  must  be  capitalists 
or  else  none  of  our  great  institutions  of  learning  and 
charity  could  be  sustained,  and  those  whom  sickness  or 
bodily  disability  rendered  useless  would  perish  without 
help.  Let  there  be  capitalists  ;  but  let  the  road  to  capi- 
tal be  so  wide,  so  beautiful,  and  so  easy  that  the  beg- 
gar-boy to-day  who  walks  your  streets  may  ten  years 
from  now,  by  simple,  honest  effort,  be  one  of  your  mer- 
chant princes.  Let  us  put  down  all  gambling,  and  let 
money  anywhere  and  everywhere  represent  past  labor, 
and  honor  every  man  because  he  is  a  man,  and  every 
woman  because  she  is  a  woman,  without  regard  to 
clothes  or  dividends  or  power,  and  the  main  difficulty 
will  be  reached. 

I  honor  the  laborers  who  supply  our  wants  to-day.  I 
feel  that  they  have  wrongs.  I  recognize  them  as  my 
brothers  and  my  sisters  in  the  Lord,  and  they  have  a 
right  to  scan  every  dollar  that  is  owned  and  spent  by 
their  more  fortunate  brethren.  But  revolution  will 
not  effect  a  cure,  and  it  can  only  hasten  destruction 
and  death.  Let  there  be  a  right  spirit  created  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  and  trouble  will  depart.  For  the 
nearly  forty-five  years  that  I  have  preached  in  or  near 
Boston,  I  have  stood  up  for  the  claims  of  what  are 
falsely  called  the  lower  classes,  and  have  pleaded  ear- 
nestly for  them  in  the  presence  of  those  who  wielded 
large  revenues  ;  but  I  would  earnestly  urge  all  parties 
to  meet  each  other  on  just  grounds,  and  on  neither 
side  must  temper  crush  reason,  nor  suffering  obscure 
justice,  nor  hate  cause  murder.     I  would  say  to   the 


236  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

rich,  Put  down  your  ambition,  crush  your  undue  love  of 
gain,  abstain  from  so  much  excessive  show,  give  away 
more  freely  and  gladly,  put  an  end  to  every  spark  of 
pride  lurking  in  your  bosoms,  and  live  only  to  do  good. 
And  I  would  say  to  the  poor,  Give  up  your  jealousy, 
your  irritable  temper,  everything  that  may  be  unjust, 
untrue,  and  ungenerous,  and  be  sure  that  the  way  will 
be  opened  for  better  days  and  for  a  larger  success. 

You  are  just  as  good  as  anybody  else,  just  as  noble, 
just  as  true,  just  as  useful,  and  your  one  or  two  rooms 
are  just  as  honorable  as  the  palaces  that  other  people 
use;  and,  just  as  long  as  you  keep  on  the  right  side  of 
God,  you  are  the  peers  of  kings  and  queens,  —  nay, 
higher  up  than  that  poor  royalty. 

Nay,  more,  it  is  you  that  really  are  our  princely  ones  ; 
for  you  have  built  our  palaces,  banks,  ships.  From 
your  hands  has  arisen  all  our  prosperity ;  and,  although 
you  do  not  hold  the  earthly  title-deed  of  the  same,  it  is 
all  recorded  in  the  resister  of  deeds  in  heaven,  and 
none  of  your  rights  will  be  lost. 

But,  my  friends,  it  is  ever  to  be  remembered  that  all 
the  large  monetary  establishments  in  the  world,  such 
as  banks,  railroads,  steamships,  and  the  like,  are  for  the 
ultimate  benefit  of  the  poor.  And  here  I  do  not  refer 
to  the  tame  statement,  however  true  and  strong,  that, 
by  all  this  financial  aid,  locomotion  is  made  more  easy, 
and  the  producer  brought  into  closer  and  more  friendly 
contact  with  the  consumer ;  but  I  refer  to  the  fact  that 
a  large  proportion  of  the  stocks  of  these  prosperous 
concerns  are  owned  by  the  poor  directly  or  indirectly. 

Do  not   start  at  such  a  statement  as  this.     I  know 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM.  237 

that  the  opinion  is  very  generally  the  other  way.  But 
examine,  if  you  please,  the  list  of  owners  in  the  various 
corporations  now  existing,  and  you  will  find,  besides 
the  names  of  widows  and  orphans  who  each  hold  a 
little, —  and  these  littles  added  together  make  a  large 
sum  of  money, —  a  large  quantity  of  property  that  is 
held  for  the  poor  in  the  savings-banks  and  the  life 
insurance  offices  all  over  the  country ;  and  hundreds 
of  millions  of  dollars  would  be  but  a  small  estimate 
of  the  amount  thus  held  to-day.  Now  nearly  all  this 
immense  wealth  is  held  in  trust  for  the  poorer  classes, 
and  belongs  wholly  and  solely  to  them,  principal  and 
interest.  So  that,  if  we  should  make  a  wreck  of  the 
financial  centre,  the  circumference  itself  would  all  go  to 
pieces ;  and  widows,  orphans,  and  hard-working  la- 
borers who  have  saved  up  a  little  would  sink  into  con- 
fusion and  death. 

I  appeal,  then,  earnestly  for  the  benefit  of  the  work- 
ing classes  that  no  such  wholesale  revolution  as  this 
be  contemplated  for  an  instant.  Because  one  part  of 
our  house  is  defective,  there  certainly  is  no  good  rea- 
son why  we  should  destroy  the  whole  building  and 
bury  ourselves  in  the  ruins. 

I  once  wrote  these  words  :  — 


The  rich  and  poor  must  join  as  one, 

The  work  of  life  to  do  ; 
And  every  angry  passion  shun, 

That  breaks  the  heart  in  two. 

The  rich  without  the  poor  would  die, 
And  pass  away  unknown. 


238  IN.MEMORIAM:    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  wings  of  wealth  itself  would  fly, 
And  nothing  could  we  own. 

The  poor  without  the  rich  would  sigh 
For  comforts  and  for  peace  ; 

And  in  the  deepest  want  would  cry 
That  human  life  might  cease. 

Both  poor  and  rich  with  hand  in  hand, 
Must  meet  life's  burdens  sure, 

And  make  the  days  of  earth  all  grand, 
And  all  things  sent  endure. 

God  gives  us  all  what  he  deems  best, 
To  each  a  special  cross  ; 

And  he  will  make  our  trials  blest 
And  hallow  every  loss. 


Again,  my  friends,  there  must  be  a  right  spirit  in 
the  study  of  Christianity.  A  great  many  people  look 
at  some  of  the  doings  and  sayings  of  those  who  are 
called  Christian,  and  exclaim,  If  such  be  Christianity, 
God  save  us  from  being  Christians  ! 

But,  my  friends,  the  whole  argument  is  weak ;  for  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten  what  they  condemn  is  not,  never 
was,  and  never  will  be  Christianity,  although  ten  thou- 
sand Christians  may  stand  up  for  and  approve  it. 
True  Christianity  stands  by  that  which  is  right.  It 
never  compromises  with  wrong  in  any  of  its  myriad 
shapes.  It  never  scoffs  at  nor  abuses  nor  shames  in 
any  way  the  poor  wayfarer  in  the  street.  It  never 
strikes  hands  with  anything  low  or  base  or  unfair  or 
in  any  way  questionable ;  and  it  has  not  anything  mean 
or  small  or  contemptible  about  it. 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM.  239 

I  would  say  to  all  who  deny  its  power  or  forfeit  its 
grace  or  maltreat  its  claims,  It  is  really  just  what  you 
want,  and  just  what  you  in  your  heart  of  hearts  ap- 
plaud ;  and  I  think  that  you  are  only  ridiculing  the 
masquerade  of  it  that  false  professors  are  attempting 
to  bolster  up.  The  grand  desire  of  Christianity  is  the 
lifting  up  of  the  people.  It  calls  every  one  a  child  of 
God.  It  would  reconcile  us  to  the  will  of  Heaven  ;  and 
it  knows  no  rich  nor  poor,  nor  high  nor  low,  but  labels 
all  one  in  Christ  and  all  one  in  God.  I  know  that  the 
rich  turned  away  from  it  at  first,  the  learned  sneered 
at  it,  and  the  powerful  abused  it.  But,  thanks  be  to  Al- 
mighty God,  the  fishermen  gathered  around  it,  and  the 
mechanics  and  artisans  of  that  day  rallied  to  the  sup- 
port of  its  sacred  flag.  And  so  now  all  who  will  study 
its  claims,  obey  its  laws,  and  be  inspired  by  its  pre- 
cepts, will  find  the  grace,  the  power,  and  the  help 
that  all  of  us  so  much  need.  In  the  endurance  of  suf- 
fering, my  friends,  we  need  the  right  spirit. 

All  of  us  are  ordained  to  be  sufferers,  and  there  are 
no  exempts  in  this  army  of  God  that  is  ever  filling  up. 
If  it  is  your  turn  to-day,  it  must  inevitably  be  my  turn 
to-morrow,  or  perhaps  in  one  day,  by  a  great  calamity, 
we  shall  all  take  our  turn  together. 

But  we  must  bear  our  blows  in  patience  and  in  holy 
hope ;  and  let  there  be  no  murmur  at  the  heart,  no 
peevishness  in  the  brain,  no  despair,  and  no  savage 
remonstrance,  but  submission  the  most  perfect,  holy, 
and  splendid,  for  saints  are  made  by  passing  through 
fire  and  water,  and  it  is  by  passing  through  great 
tribulation  that  we  arrive  at  the  throne  of  God. 


240  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

But  let  us  be  still,  whatever  our  lot.  As  one  has 
beautifully  said  :  — 

"  Be  still  in  God  !     Who  rests  on  him 
Enduring  peace  shall  know, 
And  with  a  spirit  fresh  and  free 
Through  life  shall  calmly  go. 
Be  still  in  faith !     Forbear  to  seek 
Where  seeking  nought  avails. 
Unfold  thy  soul  to  that  pure  light 
From  heaven  which  never  fails. 

"  Be  still  in  sorrow  !     As  God  wills, — 
Let  that  thy  motto  be  : 
Submissive  'neath  his  strokes  receive 
His  image  stamped  on  thee. 
Be  still  in  God !     Who  rests  on  him 
Enduring  peace  shall  know, 
And,  with  a  spirit  glad  and  free, 
Through  night  and  grief  shall  go." 

Yes,  let  us  be  still,  and  wait  at  the  time  of  discipline  ; 
for  the  blows  are  all  for  our  healing,  and  the  daylight 
will  come  once  more,  with  renewed  glory,  grace,  and 
splendor. 

So,  too,  as  we  die,  let  us  die  aright ;  for  the  time 
must  come  to  all  of  us,  sooner  or  later,  when  the 
mortal  sinks  into  the  immortal,  and  time  is  labelled 
eternity  by  the  ascending  soul.  So  let  us  meet  that 
hour,  not  stoically,  not  in  tears,  not  in  rebellion,  and 
not  with  any  vain  regrets  and  trembling  anticipations, 
but  with  a  calm,  a  delightful,  a  holy,  and  a  serene  joy 
that  shall  fill  the  room  where  we  are  placed  with  a 
radiant  glory,  not  of  earth.  So  may  it  be  Almighty 
God.     "  Renew  a  right  spirit  within  me." 


TRUE    LABOR    REFORM.  241 

This  must  be  a  spirit  of  trust,  love,  aspiration,  devo- 
tion, and  holiness,  such  as  may  be  found  in  a  thorough 
completeness  in  the  Son  of  God.  Our  prayer,  then, 
should  be :  O  Father,  make  us  more  like  him,  more 
humble,  more  gentle,  more  thankful,  more  honest, 
more  pure,  and  more  sacred.  And  may  he,  as  we  rise 
to  the  eternal  kingdom,  take  us  by  the  hand,  own  us  as 
disciples,  and  lead  us  to  his  God  and  our  God,  to  his 
Father  and  our  Father. 


NEW    YEAR'S    SERMON. 

"  Look  not  behind  thee." —  Gen.  xix.  17. 


NEW   YEAR'S    SERMON. 

"  Look  not  behind  thee." — Gen.  xix.  17. 

SO  the  angel  spoke  to  Lot  and  his  family,  so  Jesus 
spoke  to  his  disciples,  and  so  Almighty  God  says 
to  us,  at  certain  seasons,  in  peculiar  emergencies,  and 
when  the  hour  comes  for  unencumbered  action.  Then 
he  tells  us,  through  the  conscience,  not  to  look  back, 
not  to  brood  over  the  past,  and  not  to  disturb  a  fin- 
ished history.  Curiosity,  regret,  timidity,  and  fool- 
hardiness  induced  Lot's  wife  to  look  back,  and  so  she 
perished ;  and,  no  matter  whether  the  story  be  literally 
given  to  us  as  it  occurred  or  not,  the  principle  remains 
the  same,  and  the  lesson  which  it  would  set  forth  is 
equally  good  for  all  time,  being  especially  applicable 
on  this  first  Sunday  of  the  new  year,  when  perhaps 
many  of  us  are  inclined  to  dwell  too  long  upon  the 
past,  when  we  do  not  feel  prepared  to  "go  forward," 
and  when  we  are  reeling  under  the  weight  of  our 
weaknesses,  doubts,  and  sorrows. 

If- we  be  tempted  to  gaze  falsely  backward,  with 
vain  regrets,  with  unholy  apologies,  with  unsanctified 
curiosity,  with  vitiated  pride,  with  terrible  impatience, 
with  hardened  obstinacy,  and  with  a  weak  sentimen- 
talism,  as  we  are  thus  tempted,  let  us  "remember 
Lot's  wife."  Some  persons  are  very  apt  to  shut  the 
future  entirely  out  of  vision.     Instead  of  living  on  hope, 


246  IN    MEMORIAM  \    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

they  try  to  nourish  themselves  by  memories.  Instead 
of  saying  what  they  will  do,  they  keep  talking  about 
what  they  have  done.  Instead  of  looking  for  better 
things,  they  count  up  lost  opportunities.  And  all  this 
is  to  a  great  extent  without  profit,  unsuggestive,  chill- 
ing, and  deadly ;  and,  if  all  were  to  fall  into  this  way 
of  thinking  or  acting  or  dreaming,  the  world  would  be 
set  back  at  once  into  a  dreary,  chilling,  and  deadly 
past.  Let  us  each  search  our  hearts,  and  see  whether 
we  are  guilty  of  this  great  mistake  of  brooding  over 
the  inevitable. 

Do  we  stand  at  this  fresh  season  of  trial,  oppor- 
tunity, and  grandeur,  and,  instead  of  bodly  turning 
over  our  "new  leaf,"  do  we  keep  reading  over  the 
"old  leaf,"  with  storms  of  tears,  with  crushed  hearts, 
and  with  a  sort  of  mental  and  soul  paralysis  ?  If  so,  we 
shamefully  abuse  the  noble  chances  that  God  so 
lavishly  offers  for  our  true  restoration  to  his  glorious 
favor.  Of  course,  all  must  repent ;  and  repentance  is 
one  of  the  urgent  calls  of  Christianity,  one  of  its 
noblest  duties,  and  one  of  its  inevitable  demands.  But 
we  are  never  asked  to  carry  the  pack  of  our  sins  upon 
our  backs  forever,  finding  ourselves  so  thoroughly 
crippled  that  every  step  forward  is  fearfully  clogged, 
bewildered,  and  checked ;  for  in  this  way  only  dwarfs 
and  drones  are  made,  and,  if  we  so  do  every  year,  the 
weight  becomes  heavier,  neglected  opportunities  are 
fearfully  increased,  and  all  is  dark,  sad,  and  unpromis- 
ing. 

Or,  to  look  another  way,  perhaps  some  persons  on 
this  New  Year's  Sunday  are  counting  up  their  virtues ; 


NEW    YEAR'S    SERMON.  247 

and  perhaps  they  are  boasting  of  them,  fondling  them 
closely  and  lovingly  to  their  hearts,  and  feeling  very 
happy,  satisfied,  and  proud  because  they  have  reached 
to  such  a  great  height  in  holiness.  Perhaps  they 
are  thinking  how  good  they  have  grown,  and  are  con- 
gratulating themselves  upon  their  increased  spiritual 
stature.  Well,  this  is  arrant  folly,  the  worst  kind  of 
spiritual  pride,  the  worm  in  the  bud,  and  the  canker  at 
the  soul. 

Of  course,  it  is  well  occasionally  for  us  to  have  a 
sort  of  schedule  of  our  soul's  advance  laid  sacredly, 
secretly,  and  gloriously  away  in  the  chambers  of  the 
brain.  We  ought  to  know  how  much  of  a  mansion  in 
our  heart  we  have  given  up  to  God,  and  we  ought  to 
have  some  idea  how  near  to  Jesus  we  have  travelled ; 
for  thus  are  our  hardships  sweetened,  our  tears  re- 
strained, duty  made  easy,  and  thus  does  a  light  from 
the  window  of  heaven  shine  upon  all  our  efforts. 

Let  such  measurements,  however,  be  exceptional,  far 
between,  and  never  too  much  fondled.  Just  look  at 
the  answers  that  are  constantly  given  to  us  when  we 
question  people  as  to  the  cause  of  their  heavy  depres- 
sion. Several  who  are  sad  to-day  would  thus  speak  if 
they  were  truly  honest :  — 

I  spoke  thoughtlessly  a  word  one  day  during  the  past 
year  that  I  would  now  give  worlds  to  recall.  I  meant 
no  harm,  and  I  thought  no  harm ;  but  that  which  I  said 
may  be  misinterpreted,  or  twisted,  or  misrepresented, 
and  thus  I  may  have  caused  a  heart  to  suffer.  I 
uttered  a  fearful  oath,  or  I  spoke  an  untruth,  or  I  de- 
frauded  when  I  could  easily  have  been   honest,  or  I 


248  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

was  impure  where  I  might  have  been  holy,  or  I  have 
at  times  forgotten  the  Bible,  prayer,  God,  and  Christ, 
when  I  had  every  reason  to  be  devout;  and  a  great 
part  of  my  life  the  past  year  has  been  a  waste,  and  I 
am  very,  very  wretched  as  I  think  of  all  these  slips, 
crimes,  and  blots. 

Well,  this  record  is  bad,  very  bad ;  and  I  have  no 
wish  to  excuse  or  cover  or  wipe  out  the  guilt  which  a 
candid  avowal  makes  so  prominent.  But  I  do  wish  to 
accuse  the  wrong-doers  of  one  more  sin  that  they  have 
not  mentioned,  and  of  a  sin  of  which  they  are,  it  may 
be,  totally  unconscious.  I  charge  them  as  guilty  for 
brooding  over  what  cannot  be  helped,  and  in  standing 
guard  so  persistently  over  that  which  nothing  now  can 
wash  out,  and  in  looking  backward  all  the  time.  Do 
not  stop  there,  my  friends  ;  but  run  away  from  that 
dark  spot,  hasten  to  a  better  place.  Let  all  the  previous 
experience,  after  a  suitable  penitence,  be  dropped,  and 
march  to  a  nobler  stand,  to  loftier  visions,  to  more 
fertile  ground,  to  a  richer  work,  and  enter  now  at  once 
upon  a  spiritual  life. 

The  apostle  Paul  did  not  continually  moan  over  the 
days  when  he  was  a  persecutor.  No,  he  preached, 
prayed,  and  travelled  in  Asia,  Greece,  Spain,  and, 
some  say,  in  England ;  and  he  marched  on,  and  looked 
up,  whilst  in  his  closing  days  he  made  himself  alto- 
gether a  new  man.  And  so  let  us  all  go  and  do  likewise. 
We  must  not  keep  saying  what  we  might  have  done ; 
but  let  us  say  what  we  will  do,  God  helping  us. 

What  we  might  have  done  is  all  a  vision,  a  dream, 
and  a  castle  in  the  air ;  but  what  we  are  determined 


NEW    YEAR'S    SERMON.  249 

that  we  will  do  this  coming  year  may  be  changed  from 
an  idea  to  a  fact,  from  imagination  to  reality,  from  the 
splendid  chart  that  is  woven  in  the  brain  and  soul  to 
the  magnificent  performance  the  fragrance  of  which 
will  be  felt  in  the  celestial  kingdom. 

Just  here  let  me  mention  a  fault  very  common 
among  writers  of  history.  I  do  not  undervalue  his- 
tory, and  I  conceive  that  the  study  of  it  is  vastly  use- 
ful to  man ;  for  such  a  study  invigorates  the  mind,  en- 
courages philosophical  thought,  ripens,  enriches,  and 
glorifies  judgment,  uplifts  imagination,  and  leads  one 
to  detect  the  beautiful  unity  of  the  races,  and  shows 
how  the  nations  are  really  all  bound  to  each  other  and 
all  connected  with  Almighty  God. 

But  the  fault  that  I  would  mention  is  this  :  that  in  a 
large  majority  of  the  histories  that  are  written  the 
authors  state  what  might  have  been.  After  recording 
facts,  they  tell  us  how  the  whole  affair  ought  to  have 
been  different ;  but  what  right  have  they  or  any  one 
to  say  what  ought  to  have  been  ?  They  should  rever- 
ently let  all  supposition  alone.  Let  them  confine 
themselves  entirely  to  the  reality  or  to  the  philosophy 
imbedded  in  it,  and  give  us  facts  just  as  they  are. 
My  friends,  let  us  consider  a  little  the  duties  that  fall 
to  us-  as  we  stand  at  the  opening  of  this  new  year, 
whose  coming  days  no  angel  has  approached  to  un- 
fold, whose  unblotted  pages  are  left  unsketched  and 
undetermined.  We  should  start  upon  the  untried  jour- 
ney before  us  with  spirits  unabashed.  I  know  how 
common  it  is  for  all  minds  to  dread  the  unseen  ;  for 
superstition  wraps  its  fascinating  coils  about  the  future, 


250  IN  memoriam:  c.  d.  bradlee,  d.d. 

a  poisoned  and  a  wicked  imagination  lends  its  officious 
and  troublesome  aid  as  we  take  our  view  of  coming 
days.  And  we  sometimes,  we  know  not  why,  stand 
pale,  trembling,  and  piteously  cast  down  before  the 
unknown,  and  tremble  at  the  idea  of  what  may  come 
to  us  in  the  days  that  are  to  be  mastered. 

Oh,  let  us,  then,  if  we  wish  to  be  noble,  straight- 
forward, and  earnest  Christians ;  let  us,  if  we  have 
any  wish  to  become  victors  in  the  coming  battle,  if 
we  desire  to  make  the  approaching  year  jubilant, 
fruitful,  and  glorious, —  let  us  enter  the  labyrinth  with 
great,  stalwart,  and  holy  fortitude,  not  admitting  that 
danger  is  possible,  not  in  the  mood  to  be  afraid  of 
any  enemy  that  is  able  to  come  against  us,  and  deter- 
mined, whether  we  live  or  die,  or  enjoy  or  suffer, 
that  we  will  at  least  stand  upright,  holding  fast  our 
integrity,  and  holding  it  with  a  good,  honest,  and  con- 
secrated will. 

Let  us  remember  also  that  not  only  are  we  to  start 
upon  this  grand  march  without  fear,  but  with  a  true,  an 
earnest,  and  a  splendid  conception  concerning  its  holy, 
electric,  and  everlasting  importance.  We  may  be  as 
fearless  as  a  lion ;  and  yet,  if  we  feel  not  the  dignity  of 
life,  if  we  consider  not  the  solemnity  of  events,  if  we 
estimate  not  the  affiliation  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  if 
all  our  deeds  be  not  shaken  by  the  vibrations  of  eter- 
nity, then  our  strength  is  but  weakness,  our  bravery  is 
in  vain,  we  can  never  be  heroes,  and  nobility  of  char- 
acter will  never  fall  to  our  lot. 

Let  us  be  humble;  and,  with  all  our  vigor,  reality,  and 
earnestness,  let  us  be  fully  assured  that  of  ourselves  we 


NEW    YEAR'S    SERMON.  25 1 

are  nothing.  Let  us  think  of  the  old  saying,  so  true 
and  so  often  verified,  that  "  the  race  is  not  to  the 
swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong."  Let  us  not  forget 
that  sometimes  seeming  loss  is  real  gain,  and  let  us  be 
willing  quietly  to  wait  for  God's  grand  revelations ;  and 
then,  if  the  storm  should  come,  let  us  sweetly  draw 
around  us  the  mantle  of  faith,  feeling  perfectly  safe 
because  our  Father  is  at  the  helm. 

Above  all,  let  us  take  with  us  on  this  coming  journey 
independence  of  character,  that  we  may  not  be  carried 
away  by  the  popular  voice,  but  may  think,  speak,  and 
act  for  ourselves.  Of  course,  as  we  are  all  brothers 
and  sisters  in  the  Lord,  there  must  be  a  mutual  sym- 
pathy, a  hearty  co-operation,  and  a  holy  fellowship. 
But  with  all  this  interchange  of  good  will  there  must 
be  sacredly  maintained  a  separate,  an  individual,  and 
an  independent  character. 

We  must  each  act  out  our  own  convictions,  and  none 
of  us  become  the  mimic  or  the  photograph  of  anybody 
else;  and,  just  as  we  all  of  us  have  different  looks,  so 
must  we  all  have  varying  characters.  And,  whilst  we 
aim  at  perfection,  each  one  should  display  a  peculiar 
shade  of  it ;  for  we  have  each  our  own  part  to  weave  in 
the  mighty  fabric  of  God's  ordinance. 

Let'  us  go  forth,  then,  without  leaning  upon  our 
neighbor.  Let  us  fill  out  the  full  measure  of  our  call- 
ing ;  and  let  us  complete,  adorn,  and  consecrate  our  own 
special  history. 

Again,  whilst  we  are  to  be  to  a  great  extent  our- 
selves, it  is  equally  true  that  we  cannot  go  forth  alone ; 
for  we  must  have  a  guide,  as  the  labyrinth  into  which 


252  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

we  are  entering  is  full  of  intricate  paths,  and  they  all 
diverge  into  varied  roads.  And  there  are  on  many  of 
these  roads  no  way-marks  to  designate  where  they  end, 
and  we  must  take  a  guide. 

It  is  my  duty,  my  privilege,  and  my  pleasure  to 
speak  his  name,  even  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Sav- 
iour and  the  Redeemer  of  mankind.  He  has  sifted 
life,  and  understands  all  its  remarkable  phases,  the 
mystery  of  its  birth,  the  complexity  of  its  growth,  and 
the  wonder  of  its  finish.  He  has  seen  its  Bethlehem, 
its  wilderness,  its  transfiguration,  its  Calvary,  its 
ascension. 

Let  us  take  this  Head  of  the  Church,  this  appointed 
Judge  of  the  world,  and  this  holy  Redeemer,  as  we 
enter  upon  the  fresh  days  that  are  before  us ;  for  then, 
come  what  will,  we  shall  go  through  everything  trium- 
phantly, and  we  can  be  sure  not  only  of  peace  in  this 
world,  but  of  life  everlasting. 

As  these  years  rapidly  begin  and  end,  as  their  events 
quickly  come  or  go,  just  like  the  shifting  scenes  in 
your  magic  lantern,  we  are  reminded  not  only  of  our 
own  insignificance  and  frailty,  but  also  of  the  eternity 
of  God ;  for  he  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for- 
ever, and  with  him  "  there  is  no  variableness  nor  shadow 
of  change."  There  is  an  ancient  legend  quite  signifi- 
cant, something  like  this,  as  translated  by  one  of  our 
ripe  scholars  :  — 

"God  took  a  man  into  the  vestibule  of  his  house, 
and  displayed  to  him  the  glory  of  heaven.  He  took  off 
from  him  the  robes  of  flesh,  and  soon  he  was  in  the 
spirit  world.    To  the  right  hand  and  to  the  left  towered 


NEW    YEAR'S    SERMON. 


253 


mighty  constellations  that  by  self-repetitions  and  an- 
swers from  afar,  that  by  counter-positions,  built  up 
triumphal  gates,  whose  architraves,  whose  archways, 
horizontal,  upright,  rested,  rose  at  altitudes  by  spans 
that  seemed  ghostly  from  infinitude.  Suddenly,  as  he 
rode  from  Infinite  to  Infinite,  as  thus  he  tilted  over 
abysmal  worlds,  a  mighty  cry  arose  that  systems  more 
mysterious,  that  worlds  more  billowy,  other  heights, 
other  depths,  were  coming,  were  nearing,  were  at  hand. 
Then  the  man  sighed  and  stopped,  shuddered  and 
wept.  His  overladen  heart  uttered  itself  in  tears.  '  I 
will  go  no  further,'  he  said :  'insufferable  is  the  glory  of 
God.'  Then  there  was  a  voice  that  uttered,  'End  is 
there  none  to  the  universe  of  God ;  and  so,  also,  there 
is  no  beginning.'  "  This  legend  is  full  of  rich  meaning, 
and  it  is  peculiarly  fragrant  this  New  Year's  Sunday ; 
for  it  foreshadows  what  our  state  is  to  be  above,  for  all 
our  years  will  be  very  new,  bright,  and  holy  there. 
There  will  be  nothing  old ;  and  glory  will  rise  upon 
glory,  and  splendor  will  leap  upon  splendor,  until  we 
are  thoroughly  entranced.  I  offer  you,  dear  friends, 
my  sincere  congratulations  at  this  time  when  all  are 
wishing  each  other  well ;  and  may  it,  indeed,  be  a 
happy  New  Year  to  you  all  in  your  homes,  business, 
church,  and  souls !  May  your  spiritual  life  be  thor- 
oughly increased !  may  holy  angels  attend  you  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left !  and,  whether  you  live  or 
die,  may  you  be  the  acknowledged  disciples  of  the  Re- 
deemer, and  have  your  names  written  in  God's  Book  of 
Life !  God  Almighty  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
bless  you  one  and  all. 


254  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.    BRADLEE,  D.D. 

The  poet  Gill  said,  and  with  some  of  his  words  we 
will  close :  — 

"  O  time  !  ne'er  resteth  thy  swift  wing, 

Thy  minutes  make  no  stay ; 
Yet  what  vast  treasure  do  they  bring, 

What  treasure  bear  away ! 
O  richly  laden  hours,  ye  fly ; 

Yet  ye  lay  down  your  load. 
O  minutes  freighted  awfully, 

Your  freight  is  all  bestowed. 

•    "  Ye  bring  the  world's  consuming  care, 

Ye  bring  the  tempter's  wile, 
Ye  bring  the  glorious  strife  of  prayer, 

Ye  bring  the  Father's  smile. 
Yes,  Lord,  our  days  may  be  divine, 

Our  hours  may  golden  be  ; 
The  brightness  of  their  light  may  shine 

Through  all  eternity." 


SOLID    GOODNESS. 

Let  not  then  your  good  be  evil  spoken  of." —  Rom.  xiv.  16. 


SOLID    GOODNESS. 

"  Let  not  then  your  good  be  evil  spoken  of." — Rom.  xiv.  16. 

IT  is  not  enough  for  us  that  we  are  good ;  but  our 
goodness  must  be  so  well  denned,  so  clearly 
shaped,  and  so  full  of  holy,  splendid,  and  beautiful 
echoes  that  nobody  can  speak  of  it  with  disparage- 
ment, doubt,  and  denial, —  that  is,  our  characters  must 
be  clear  as  crystal,  bright  as  a  sunbeam,  and  pure  as 
ice.  We  must  seem  good  to  our  neighbors,  friends, 
and  everybody;  and  we  must,  to  use  the  terse,  pungent, 
and  glorious  Scripture  words,  "  Let  our  light  shine 
before  men."  I  am  not  asking  you  or  myself  or  any 
one  to  seem  good,  without  being  so.  I  do  not  wish  you 
nor  any  one  to  play  continually  a  double  game,  to  wear 
paint  upon  the  soul,  and  to  go  through  the  world 
marked  saint  by  man,  but  marked  Satan  by  God, —  no, 
never ! 

Let  us  stand  for  just  what  we  are  worth ;  and,  if 
people  would  estimate  us  at  a  higher  rate  than  we 
deserve,  let  no  deception  of  ours  start  the  rumor, 
build  up  the  glory,  and  enhance  the  delusion. 

What  I  wish  to  advance  is  this :  namely,  it  is  not 
enough  for  you,  for  me,  and  for  all  to  be  good,  and 
yet  never  to  show  any  signs  of  it  that  can  be  clearly 
detected  by  those  who  are  watching  our  movements 
all  the  time ;  for  we  ought  not  to  keep  our  convictions, 
virtues,  and  worship  so  chilled,  so  smothered,  and  so 
deeply  hid  that  no  one  can  exactly  make  out  whether 


258  IN    MEMORIAM  !    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

we  are  soldiers  of  the  cross  or  fighting  under  a  very 
different  standard.  It  is  not  enough  for  us  to  be  good, 
ever  so  good,  ever  so  pure,  and  ever  so  holy ;  but  we 
must  also  appear  so,  and  our  whole  manner,  voice,  and 
everything  about  us  must  show  that  we  are  so.  Yes, 
we  must  not  only  be  soldiers  of  the  cross,  but  we  must 
wear  the  uniform,  carry  the  weapons,  display  the  flag, 
rush  into  the  battle,  and  prove  our  title  sound,  sweet, 
clear,  beautiful,  and  grand.  You  may  say  that  a  man 
who  never  shows  what  he  is  can  never  be  what  he 
pretends ;  and  perhaps,  as  a  general  statement,  your 
remark  is  correct.  But  there  are  exceptions  to  the  rule  ; 
for  many  a  man  is  really  religious,  but  naturally  so 
timid  or  proud  or  sensitive  that  he  will,  when  in  pri- 
vate, give  indubitable  proofs  of  goodness,  but  all  the 
time,  in  public,  will  seek  to  cover  up  natural  impulses, 
and  by  bravado,  or  by  reserve,  or  by  complete  silence, 
will  conceal  the  real  disposition.  And  such  persons  say 
it  is  no  one's  concern  what  we  believe,  what  thoughts 
we  cherish,  and  what  affections  nestle  in  our  hearts  ; 
and  they  maintain  that  whether  they  are  religious  or 
not  is  a  matter  that  must  be  settled  between  them 
and  their  God.  A  young  man  once  said  to  an  aged 
person,  "Have  you  got  religion?"  and  the  instant 
reply  was  given,  u  None  to  speak  of."  Such  people  say, 
God  knows  what  we  are,  and  that  is  enough ;  and,  even 
if  we  are  called  infidels,  knaves,  and  all  kinds  of  hard 
names,  it  does  not  concern  us  in  the  least,  for  we  have 
no  religion  of  which  to  speak.  I  wish,  however,  to  say 
to  such  that  they  make  a  great  mistake.  I  admit  that 
they  may  be  truly  good  men  or  women,  and  perhaps 
better  men  or  women  than  many  of  the  talkers  and 


SOLID    GOODNESS.  259 

performers ;  but  they  are  not  so  good  as  they  should 
be,  can  be,  and  must  be. 

If  they  were  hermits,  their  argument  might  be 
honest,  true,  and  solid ;  but,  living  as  they  do  in  the 
centre  of  a  crowd,  in  the  presence  of  gazing  eyes, 
right  before  waiting  souls,  and  in  God's  world  of  many 
people,  they  must  remember  that  their  example  tells. 
For  our  life  is  not  a  unit,  but  it  is  a  universality ;  and 
every  man  or  woman,  as  long  as  he  or  she  dwells  upon 
the  earth,  is  not  only  building  himself  or  herself  up, 
but  is  ever  furnishing  materials  for  the  upbuilding  of 
many  other  souls.  And  it  is  the  law  of  God  that  we 
must  live  for  others  as  well  as  for  ourselves,  and  that 
every  man,  woman,  and  child,  by  a  decided,  unques- 
tioned, and  stalwart  moral  and  religious  example, 
should  help  every  being  within  possible  reach. 

It  is  said  that,  if  one  stamps  upon  the  earth,  the 
reverberation  of  the  sound  can  be  detected  in  the  most 
distant  planets  ;  and  how  much  more  true  it  is,  and  how 
deeply  solemn  the  fact,  that  all  our  thoughts,  words, 
and  deeds  keep  reverberating  for  years  in  the  hearts 
and  characters  of  our  fellow-beings  ! 

"  Let  not  your  good  be  evil  spoken  of." 

There  is  a  time  in  our  experience  when  it  is  no 
matter  whether  our  good  be  evil  spoken  of  or  not ;  and 
this  is  the  case  when  we  have  done  all  in  our  power, 
not  only  to  be  good,  but  also  to  seem  so,  and,  if  we  do 
the  best  that  we  can,  no  more  can  be  asked  of  us.  I 
do  not  doubt  that  often  our  noblest  deeds  are  marked, 
on  some  human  tablet,  as  very  bad,  are  ascribed  to 
selfish  motives,  and  are  every  week  misunderstood, 
twisted,  and  slandered ;  but  we  cannot  help  that,  nor 


260  IN    MEMORIAM  I    C.  D.   BRADLEE,  D.D. 

need  we  care  for  that,  nor  need  we  think  about  that. 
For  it  is  good  for  us  sometimes  —  ay,  often  —  to  stem 
the  tide  of  public  opinion  ;  and  there  would  be  no  merit, 
courage,  and  virtue  in  constantly  swimming  along  with 
the  current.  Nay,  we  should  have  but  very  little 
originality  of  character  if  we  bent  our  wills,  ways,  and 
thoughts  exclusively  under  the  direction  of  any  one 
mere  human  leader. 

There  are  those  in  the  world  who  have  the  wonder- 
ful faculty  of  attributing  every  deed  of  man  to  a  low 
motive ;  and,  if  a  man  would  give  a  princely  donation, 
in  order  to  aid  a  noble  charity,  such  say  he  did  it 
merely  to  increase  his  popularity,  not  that  he  cared  in 
the  least  for  the  poor  that  he  helped.  And,  if  one  would 
advocate  strongly  any  charitable  movement,  such  say 
they  wonder  who  has  paid  him  for  his  eloquence,  and 
what  office  he  is  seeking ;  and,  whatever  one  does  that 
is  praiseworthy  or  honest  or  holy,  such  are  always 
gazing  for  by-ends,  as  if  it  were  impossible  for  any  one 
to  be  good  for  goodness'  sake,  for  Christ's  sake,  and 
for  God's  sake.  Whenever  you  hear  such  people  talk, 
never  pay  any  attention  to  what  they  say,  but  pray 
God,  when  you  are  alone,  that  their  hearts  may  be 
changed,  and  that  they  may  be  made  more  charitable, 
holy,  and  Christ-like.  I  thoroughly  pity  any  one  who 
can  never  detect  anything  noble  in  humanity ;  for,  of 
course,  he  must  form  his  judgment  after  scanning  the 
vacant  depths  in  his  own  soul.  And  what  a  pitiable 
world  such  a  one  inhabits ;  for  all  around  him  are 
pirates  and  knaves,  all  joy  and  honesty  are  gone,  and 
might,  not  right,  is  the  motto. 

Sin  is  let  loose  and  becomes  triumphant,  and  death 


SOLID    GOODNESS.  26 1 

in  such  a  case  must  be  an  inexpressible  relief;  for  who 
would  care  to  stay  a  moment  in  so  much  danger,  con- 
fusion, and  despair  ?  Do  you  find,  however,  that  these 
critics  are  any  more  ready  to  die  than  anybody  else  ? 
And  do  they  not  rather  seek  to  stay  just  as  long  as 
they  possibly  can  in  this  deceitful  world  ? 

You  may  be  very  sure  that  it  is  a  very  safe  rule  for 
you  to  distrust  those  who  are  always  distrusting  others  ; 
and,  whilst  they  speak  harshly  of  the  race,  they  are 
simply  furnishing  you  a  photograph  of  their  own  spirit- 
ual domain. 

I  suppose  that  the  words  of  our  text  will  apply  to 
every  experience  of  our  life ;  for  the  question  often  arises 
in  the  heart  of  the  one  who  strives  to  be  a  Christian, 
Can  I  continue  to  do  this  or  that,  and  yet  be  religiously 
consistent,  keep  my  character  untarnished,  and  stand 
well  before  my  own  soul  ?  That  is,  how  will  my  con- 
duct in  any  particular  case  appear  to  my  neighbors, 
friends,  the  community  at  large,  and  to  Almighty  God  ; 
and  shall  I  be  universally  condemned  or  universally 
approved  ? 

Perhaps  I  may  be  legally  right ;  but  do  I  not  lessen 
the  dignity  of  goodness,  if  I  violate  the  sanctity  of  the 
consciences  of  those  around  me,  and  ought  I  not  to 
abridge  a  great  many  comforts,  cut  off  a  great  many 
gains,  and  suffer  considerably  rather  than  create  a  sus- 
picion of  my  honor,  purity,  and  holiness  in  the  hearts 
of  the  weak?  And  did  not  Saint  Paul  mean  a  great 
deal  when  he  said,  "  If  meat  make  my  brother  to  offend, 
I  will  eat  no  meat  while  the  world  lasts  "  ?  Many  per- 
sons, who  really  desire  to  be  holy,  true,  and  sound  in 
the  very  depths  of   the   soul,  ask   how   many  of  the 


262  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

world's  pleasures  they  can  conscientiously  retain, 
enjoy,  and  advocate;  and  the  answer  is  very  plain, 
eloquent,  and  easy.  Any  of  them,  all  of  them,  and  as 
many  as  possible  that  are  innocent  are  at  your  disposal ; 
for  religion  does  not  intend  to  make  you  a  hermit,  and 
to  bar  you  out  from  the  world.  It  is  no  monk's  cell 
where  you  are  to  be  cloistered  forever,  but  it  is  meant 
for  the  liberalizing  and  the  enlarging  of  the  mind,  for 
the  unfolding,  the  enrichment,  and  the  glorifying  of  the 
soul ;  and  it  wants  to  pull  down  all  false  restraints, 
smother  all  hypocritical  isolation,  and  crush  all  pitiable 
austerity.  And  yet,  before  you  enter  upon  any  of  the 
world's  delights,  you  must  see  to  it  that  your  judgment 
is  wide-awake,  your  reason  clear,  your  imagination 
bridled,  your  affections  purified,  and  your  souls  lighted 
up  by  celestial  fire.  You  must  avoid  many  things  that 
in  themselves  may  be  right,  but  that  in  you,  as  an 
example,  would  be  wrong ;  for  perhaps  you  can  bear  a 
great  deal,  but  your  neighbor  who  is  looking  at  you  is 
easily  upset,  pulled  down,  and  destroyed.  It  is  well 
enough  to  leave  what  one  can  or  cannot  do  to  each 
one's  purified  heart,  as  it  is  strengthened,  sanctified, 
elevated,  and  uplifted  by  the  grace  of  Almighty  God ; 
and  it  would  be  foolish  for  any  one  to  draw  up  for  any- 
body else  a  code  of  laws  which  must  be  obeyed,  since 
such  a  code  would  not  in  many  cases  apply,  and  would 
in  all  cases  be  somewhat  out  of  order,  one-sided,  and 
severe.  If  we  wish  to  live  in  this  world  with  any  sort 
of  power,  we  must  constantly  study  the  consciences  of 
other  people,  and  must  shape  our  conduct  accordingly  ; 
for  we  show  our  true  bravery  when  we  are  willing  to 
give  up  a  good  many  privileges  rather  than  to  throw  a 


SOLID    GOODNESS.  263 

stumbling-block  in  any  one's  way,  and  we  can  do  better 
without  our  luxury  than  our  weak  neighbor  can  without 
his  virtue.  And  life,  in  order  to  become  in  any  way 
sublime,  must  be  full  of  constant  self-denials. 

Nay,  are  not  these  self-denials,  these  givings-up,  and 
these  holy  sacrifices  made  blessings,  when  by  their 
aid  a  brother  or  a  sister  is  led  closer  and  closer  to 
goodness  and  nearer  to  God  ?  and  shall  we  ever  be 
ashamed,  as  we  stand  before  Almighty  God,  that  we 
have  often  given  up  our  gains,  pleasures,  and  comforts, 
that  through  our  abstinence  some  soul  might  be  saved, 
lighted  up,  and  blessed  ? 

Then,  oh,  then,  in  that  great  day,  when  all  hearts  are 
laid  open,  when  all  secrets  are  exposed,  and  the  life 
record  stands  clear  before  Almighty  God,  if  we  have 
been  "good  Samaritans"  in  the  flesh,  a  holy  peace 
will  be  ours,  which  will  abundantly  compensate  us  for 
any  earthly  toils  that  we  may  have  endured.  Whilst 
we  are  living  here  with  those  of  all  kinds  of  characters, 
whose  spiritual  discipline  so  vastly,  strangely,  and 
terribly  differs,  let  us  think,  as  we  speak  and  act,  of 
the  great  hereafter;  and  let  us  so  manage  our  ways 
that  the  echoes  of  our  deeds  shall  be  truly  fragrant, 
beautiful,  and  eloquent  in  heaven. 

There  are  a  great  many  in  this  world  who  think  that 
it  is  a  rich  delight  to  spend  their  time  in  ridiculing  the 
convictions  of  all  with  whom  they  come  in  contact. 
Such  never  admit  that  anybody  save  themselves  has  a 
conscience.  They  are  too  thoughtless  to  make  any 
allowances  for  differences  of  education,  peculiar  tem- 
peraments, and  varying  circumstances ;  and  they  insist 
that  they  have  the  sole  power  of  judging  what  is  right 


264  IN    MEMORIAM  :    C.  D.  BRADLEE,  D.D. 

and  what  is  wrong,  and  of  forcing  others  to  think  as 
they  do. 

But,  my  friends,  what  right  has  any  one  to  say  that 
God  has  given  to  him  or  to  her  the  whole  truth, 
clothed  him  or  her  with  the  clearest  reason,  and  affixed 
to  him  or  to  her  the  largest  heart  ? 

What  right  has  any  one,  save  Jesus  Christ,  to  say 
that  he  or  she  is  the  criterion  by  which  all  others  are 
to  be  judged?  and  how  dare  feeble,  misguided,  and 
sinful  children  of  God  assert  so  high  a  claim  ? 

Allow  that  you  do  not  think  as  I  do,  my  brother. 
Very  well,  this  does  not  prove  that  you  are  wrong  or 
that  I  am  wrong  or  that  we  are  both  wrong,  for  it 
proves  nothing ;  and,  if  you  should  be  sincere  in  your 
convictions,  and  if  I  should  be  equally  so  in  mine,  we 
have  a  ground  on  which  we  both  can  stand,  and  where 
we  can  proffer  our  congratulations, —  namely,  the 
ground  of  our  mutual  sincerity.  Here  we  may  form  a 
close  fellowship,  and  here  we  may  be  bound  by  a  holy 
alliance,  although  our  opinions  may  be  as  wide  apart 
as  the  east  is  from  the  west  or  the  north  from  the 
south.  Let  a  truly  good  man  go  where  he  will,  into 
any  church  or  country,  and  he  will  at  once  be  recog- 
nized ;  for  the  odor  of  his  sanctity  will  so  cling  to  him 
that  even  a  Hottentot  will  hold  him  in  respect,  and,  no 
matter  if  not  a  single  soul  would  agree  with  his  creed, 
all  will  commend  and  admire  his  heart.  "  Let  not 
your  good  be  evil  spoken  of." 

Turn  to  Jesus  Christ  as  the  true  example  of  what  we 
have  endeavored  to  teach ;  for  he  not  only  was  good, 
but  he  always  appeared  to  be  so,  was  not  ashamed  to 
let  his  light  shine  before  men,  thought  it  a  duty  ever 


SOLID    GOODNESS.  265 

to  be  himself  in  private  and  in  public,  and  was  willing 
to  sacrifice  everything  except  virtue,  and  to  that  he 
ever  stood  faithful.  He  would  give  up  his  life,  but  not 
truth  ;  and  let  us  learn  gladly  of  him  how  to  make  our 
lives  attractive,  strong,  and  sublime.  And  then  all  will 
know,  feel,  and  confess  that  we  are  truly  good.  The 
thoughts  which  I  would  to-day  call  forth  I  have  thrown, 
in  my  own  rough  way,  in  a  form  like  this  :  — 

Oh,  let  us  all  seem  what  we  are, 

And  be  that  which  we  seem, 
That  all  our  deeds  be  not  afar 

From  that  which  each  should  dream. 

May  thought  and  act  forever  blend, 

And  work  and  speech  unite  ! 
And  let  us  each  and  all  defend 

That  which  is  wholly  right. 

To  seem,  and  not  to  be,  is  wrong ; 

For  then  the  heart  is  weak. 
Will  any  peace  to  those  belong 

Who  goodness  never  seek  ? 

To  be,  and  never  make  it  known, 

To  hide  the  grace  we  love, 
Will  stand  against  us  at  the  throne, 

When  we  are  called  above. 

Helpr  us,  O  God,  through  Christ,  the  Son, 

True  in  all  ways  to  be ; 
And,  when  our  work  below  is  done, 

Thy  glory  may  we  see  ! 


x,< 

'  w 


